Motorists are one of the favorite targets of scammers, who do not lack imagination to develop new scams. One of the latest, fake tickets stamped with fraudulent QR Codes to scan. Conversely, certain scams as old as time continue to claim victims year after year. This is particularly the case ofa very specific breakdown scamrecently spotted by our colleagues at France Blue Périgord.
The alert was first given by the Dordogne gendarmerie on his Facebook account, this October 23, 2023. In their publication, the police explain having “been confronted[e]s at the ‘breakdown’ on the roads of Dordogne“, we can read. Then, the soldiers continue and explain that “Scammers pose as drivers in distress, claiming to have car breakdown and asking for help“. Once after gaining the attention of their victim, the scammers ask money or to be taken to a gas station nearby to refuel. In exchange, they hand over jewelry or worthless objects.
[Le coup de la panne] ⛽Be careful, this morning we were faced with the “breakdown”, which has nothing to do with…
Posted by Dordogne Gendarmerie we Monday, October 23, 2023
A breakdown scam reported by several motorists
According to information from France Blue, two scams were reported to the police in the communes of Cherveix-Cubas and Hautefort, on October 22 and 23. Moreover, “a very well-established process“had already been noticed in the spring in the west of the Dordogne, specify our colleagues according to the statements of a lieutenant. Questioned by the regional newspaper, the gendarmes underlined the fact that”the car is often a large engine registered abroad, in Bulgaria or Romania“. Vigilance is therefore required.
In its message published on its social networks, the departmental gendarmerie details that the scammers are “mostly accompanied by women and children“. In addition, she advises Internet users who find themselves confronted with charlatans of not respond favorably and of “cut short the exchange“. She also invites you to contact emergency services by dialing 17.
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