Winter warning: those damn scams

A sobering winter message from the local gendarmes reminds people, particularly the elderly, to be on their guard against scammers and con artists.

The following scams and unfair procedures reported by locals are not new, but have come to our attention recently. For many, many more, click here.

Firewood Order and Delivery

Winter is here. Wood and pellets for your fires can be hard to come by. Scammers know this too. They create fake websites, often usurping the name of veritable businesses, offering delivery of cheap wood or pellets…. which never arrive.

It’s a difficult one, but our advice is if it seems too good to be true, it probably is! Don’t pay for anything in advance, even a deposit, before receiving the goods.

firewood

Package delivery

A text message informs you of a delivery and asks you to click a link to verify/complete/confirm delivery details. They ask for your credit card or other personal details. The links can be very realistic, often in the name of Chronopost or DHL.

If you are expecting a delivery, this can be a dilemma. Check delivery details via the original vendor or contact Chronopost or DHL directly via their websites if possible. Never click on a link received by text.

One reader tells us…

We have in the past paid to receive a small parcel which they say is because of VAT. Fair enough. Today though, we were astounded to be charged 9 euro for a small Father’s Day card from our son to my husband.

The postman said it is because it is from outside the EU. The card is clearly marked letter, 20g and no value. It is £2.50 postage paid Royal Mail so can’t be to do with insufficient payment. My husband paid the 9 euro but was told they don’t issue receipts.

After 22 years and paying tax here I sometimes wonder if we are seen as fair game!

packages

Door to door

Another reader informed us that she was approached by two men at her gate.

While working on next door’s roof they said (the house is a semi) they spotted some tiles that needed replacing next door and kindly did so while they were up there. How kind.

Was there any chance, the men enquired, that the householder could reimburse 20€ for the tiles? The roof is 25 years old so it was feasible. However, suspicion was quickly raised when they refused to take cash and insisted on using a card reader.

When presented, the card reader showed €2000 on the screen instead of €20. The men said the extra zeros were ‘normal’ for their type of card reader.
Fortunately, the householder wasn’t duped, the men got angry, and left with nothing.

Other similar incidents include offering to clean the outside of your house, or interior and exterior of your car for €20, payment by card reader of course.

Our advice: do not engage with ANYONE going door to door offering ANY services, no matter how friendly they are. Close the door on them politely and firmly, and have your phone ready to take a photo to pass on to the police if they insist.

money credit card

The P-O gendarmerie adds…

  • Never let anyone that you do not know into your home: genuine door-to-door salespeople, charities and canvassers will not ask to come in and should not be offended if you do not invite them to.
  • Tell the person that you have no money on you: do not part with cash or cards in any unofficial circumstances.
  • Never sign anything: if you think you could be interested by the offer, take the documentation and tell the person you will return it to them at a later date.
  • Report fraud: if you are the victim of fraud, contact the police as soon as possible. If you think you have identified a fraud, you can report it via the online platform, PHAROS
gendarme

One more thing...

Be philosophical if met with a certain indifference in some local gendarmeries. There’s so little they can do and they know it!

Stay safe!

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