Online scams: how to report a fraud?

2023-05-12 15:54:33

French deputies voted on Wednesday May 10 for the adoption of a bill against insecurity on the Internet, in the face of the resurgence of online scams. There are many kinds of fraud, via SMS, email or phone calls. While it is important to recognize a scam, several organizations can be seized in the event of fraud, or even a cyberattack.

► Recognize the different types of fraud

There are different kinds of Internet fraud. The phishing technique (or “phishing” in English) consists of sending a false message, relating to an act of daily life to update your “Crit’air” thumbnail, use your personal training account, retrieve a package La Poste or pay a fine.

The fraudulent message contains an attachment and prompts the recipient to update information on a website. This site is fake. If the user clicks on the link, the fake site collects the information that the recipient fills in and the person behind the scam can use the identifiers, passwords or bank details.

Another scam relies on the technique of ransomware. This technique involves surreptitiously installing a computer program on a user’s device to encrypt their data. The cybercriminal can then demand a payment of money in exchange for the user’s data. Specifically, the ransomware hides in messages with attachments or booby-trapped links. In this type of message, the scammer pretends to be a bank adviser, a relative or even a La Poste adviser, to claim a sum of money from the recipient.

If the latter clicks on the link or the attachment, the software is automatically downloaded to the computer and recovers the personal data to encrypt them and make them inaccessible. The person behind the attack then demands the payment of a ransom.

► What to do in case of fraud?

There are several points of contact for reporting online fraud. To report illegal content in the context of phishing by email or on a website, you must file a report on Pharos website (Platform for harmonization, analysis, cross-checking and orientation of reports) of the Ministry of the Interior.

As part of a phishing SMS, there are several ways to report the scam. The abusive SMS can be transferred directly to the number 33700. The alert can also be given online, on the site 33700.frcreated by telecom operators.

For a professional dispute, when you are the victim of ransomware for example, you must contact the General Directorate for Consumer Affairs, Competition and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF), via a online process.

If the data has been stolen or if a payment of money is claimed, the Internet user must file a complaint. The “info scams” ​​telephone platform allows direct exchanges with police officers or gendarmes (1).

► A law to strengthen digital security

The bill adopted on Wednesday May 10 provides for the establishment of an “anti-scam” filter. Concretely, this filter will intervene as soon as a malicious campaign is detected by a State service. This can then trigger the display of a warning message on the terminals of users wishing to access the fraudulent service. Discussions are underway with telecom operators and Internet browser publishers to achieve implementation.

To avoid online scams, it is especially advisable to strengthen your digital security with complex passwords, changed regularly. Some “firewall” software also makes it possible to protect against cyberattacks.