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“If you receive an SMS, ignore it”: the government warns against scams with Crit’Air stickers

With the generalization of low emission zones (ZFE), Crit’Air sticker scams have multiplied and developed since the end of 2022.

Crit’Air sticker scams are on the rise and the Ministry of Ecological Transition on Monday asked motorists to stay vigilant. The gradual establishment of low emission zones (ZFE) is forcing more and more French people to ask for their “Crit’Air” sticker on the Internet and scammers have sniffed the vein, sending SMS or creating fraudulent websites.

“Don’t click the link”

The Crit’Air air quality certificate is a safe sticker, to stick on the windshield of the vehicle, mandatory to drive in ZFE under penalty of a fine. It has a fixed price of 3.72 euros, the ministry reported in a press release.

Remember that the official Crit’Air site, the government or the prefecture do not send SMS to users to sell cartoons. To fight against fraud, the government has announced the establishment of “surveillance” on the Internet to “limit the reach of malicious sites.” It also plans to issue an information campaign in the second quarter of 2023, which will include the address of the official site.

Two modes of operation

Crit’Air sticker scams have been around since 2017, but have developed particularly since late 2022. Two operating methods have been observed.

The first is to create a fake website that is well referenced and uses the visual codes and layout of the real official site, where potential victims are invited to provide their bank details.

The second uses the technique of “phishing” (phishing) by SMS or email from illegally constituted databases to direct the victim to the fraudulent site.

During the two years 2020 and 2021, 43 incidents were reported against 56 for 2022, including 38 between July and December, according to the Strategic Analysis Service against Organized Crime (Sirasco), attached to the Central Directorate of Judicial Police (DCPJ).

At the end of 2022, one person transferred 10,700 euros to an account in Spain, another 3,000 euros in Lithuania.

Author: PM with AFP
Source: BFM TV

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