To report a private loan scam in France, first alert your bank, file a complaint online through Thésée or at a police station, report the advert on Pharos and call Info Escroqueries on 0 805 805 817 for guidance.
The first hours after paying a fake lender
As soon as a transfer for application fees has gone to a so-called lender, call your bank's fraud department. An instant SEPA transfer is hard to recall, but a request for the return of funds remains possible if it is made without delay.
Thésée, the online complaint for internet fraud
The Ministry of the Interior runs Thésée, reachable from the internet scam section of the Service public website, for complaints when the fraud took place online: fake credit site, loan advert, messaging app. The form asks for a timeline and every payment.
Pharos for fraudulent adverts and profiles
Pharos, a platform run by the police and gendarmerie, receives reports of illegal online content. A loan advert on a forum or in a group of fake lenders active on social media can be reported there, although such a report is not a complaint.
Info Escroqueries: free advice before you act
The free Info Escroqueries line, 0 805 805 817, is staffed by police officers and gendarmes from Monday to Friday. They help define what happened, list the documents to gather and point you to the right procedure, especially when the scammer operates from abroad.
Alerting the AMF and ACPR to an illegal credit offer
A website offering loans without authorisation can be reported to the AMF or ACPR, the French financial regulators, through their joint service Assurance Banque Épargne Info Service. Both publish blacklists of unauthorised firms, updated thanks to reports from the public.
Signal Spam, 33700 and Signal Conso against cold contact
Unsolicited emails promising quick credit can be reported on Signal Spam, and similar text messages by forwarding them to 33700. Signal Conso, run by the DGCCRF consumer protection agency, handles reports about an identified company using misleading sales tactics.
Gathering evidence before it vanishes
Scammers quickly delete their profiles and WhatsApp numbers. Take dated screenshots of conversations, keep emails with their headers, the fake contracts in PDF, the transfer orders and the references of any prepaid vouchers bought at their request.
The special case of a fake notary or fake lawyer
When a so-called notary demands registration fees before releasing the loan, also report the impersonation to the relevant departmental chamber of notaries. Our page on the fake notary scam describes the forged deeds that victims of this scenario usually receive.
Identity document or bank details sent to the scammer
If you sent a copy of your passport, a RIB (French bank details slip) or proof of address, the risk exceeds the money lost: they serve to open accounts or loans in your name. Read our page on identity theft after a fake loan.
Bank card misused: the Perceval report
When the scammer has your card number and makes online purchases, block the card and then declare the transactions on Perceval, reachable via Service public. This report supports your dispute with your bank over payments you never authorised.
Scammer based outside France: a complaint still helps
Many fake lender networks collect money on accounts opened in another European country or further afield. A complaint filed in France remains admissible if you live there, and it lets investigators link your case to other victims of the same network.
Getting support from a victim aid association
The France Victimes network, reachable on 116 006, helps free of charge to build the file and follow the proceedings. A consumer association such as UFC-Que Choisir, or a lawyer, can also assess a claim against the bank that executed abnormal transfers.
Reporting the scam in the right order
- Call your bank's fraud department, ask for recent transfers to be recalled and block your card and online access if you shared them.
- Stop all contact with the fake lender and pay nothing more, even if you are promised a refund in exchange for new fees.
- Save conversations, emails, fake contracts, the payee's bank details and proof of each payment in a single folder.
- File a complaint through Thésée, at a police station or with the gendarmerie, attaching the timeline and the amounts paid.
- Report the advert or profile on Pharos and the unauthorised website to the AMF or ACPR.
- Contact France Victimes or a consumer association for support and to prepare a possible claim against the bank.
Cost of the scam and of the reporting procedures
| Item | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Complaint via Thésée, police station or gendarmerie | Free | No filing fee |
| Call to Info Escroqueries | Free | Number 0 805 805 817 |
| Fees demanded by the fake lender | From a few hundred to several thousand euros (indicative) | Insurance, notary, release fees |
| Fake lost-funds recovery service | Variable | A frequent second scam after the first |
| Lawyer to join proceedings as civil party | Fees set freely, on quotation | Legal aid possible depending on income |
Documents to attach to your report
- Identity document of the person filing the complaint
- Dated screenshots of exchanges with the fake lender
- Emails received, with their full headers
- Fake contract, fake notary or bank certificate
- Bank statements showing each transfer and the payee's IBAN
- Receipts for prepaid vouchers or money transfers
- Complaint receipt for the bank and the insurer
Mistakes that make reporting harder
- Waiting several days before alerting the bank, when funds are often moved to another account within a few hours.
- Paying a so-called recovery firm that promises to find the lost money for an advance: it is almost always the same network.
- Deleting conversations out of shame or fear, which deprives investigators of useful numbers, usernames and IBANs.
- Thinking a report on Pharos is enough, when only a complaint opens an investigation and allows you to claim compensation.
- Telling the scammer that a complaint has been filed, which prompts them to empty the account and change identity.
Reporting a loan scam: practical answers
Should I file a complaint if the amount lost is small?
Yes. Even a 150 euro transfer for application fees deserves a complaint, because investigators link cases involving the same IBAN or phone number. The complaint receipt also helps with your bank when disputing later transactions.
Can my bank refund a transfer I made myself?
A transfer you authorised is in principle hard to recover, unlike an unauthorised payment. The bank can still attempt a recall of funds. A lawyer or consumer association can examine whether it failed in its duty of vigilance.
Thésée or the police station: which route should I choose?
Thésée suits frauds committed entirely online and saves you a trip. The police station or gendarmerie remains preferable if you met the scammer, handed over cash or if several offences overlap, such as identity theft.
What if a so-called investigator contacts me after the complaint?
Be careful: fake police officers, fake Interpol agents or fake lawyers call victims to demand recovery fees. Investigating services never ask for payment. Check by calling the police station back on its official number.