Scams have been increasing for some time now, and many calls from fake bank advisors have been reported. In an episode of Special Envoy broadcast on February 29, 2024, a journalist came into contact with a scammer who claims to obtain loot of more than €3,000 per week.
340 million euros stolen in 2022
Fake bank advisors have been in the news a lot in recent months. According to the Banque de France, these crooks stole 340 million euros in 2022. Julien Duponchel, journalist at Envoyé Spécial, approached these networks and discovered that they are generally very young people.
To get in touch with them, the journalist leaked the number of a credit card in the name of Mr. Dupont with a telephone number. This sensitive data was then posted in discussions between scammers on encrypted messaging services. It only took a few minutes for Julien Duponchel to be contacted by someone posing as a banking advisor.
The method, often the same, consists of making the victim believe that suspicious transactions have been detected on their account in order to extract money from them. The crook, who introduces himself under the name of Mr. Muller, does not give up when Julien Duponchel, under his false identity, appears overly suspicious. The journalist explains to him that he is going to call his bank but, despite everything, the fake banker continues his speech.
A loot of €3,000 per week according to this crook
Subsequently, Julien Duponchel manages to speak with another scammer who claims to steal more than €3,000 per week. Sure of himself, the crook claims that “the police have no proof”. Barely 17 years old, this member of a seemingly well-established network says he uses the money to buy luxury goods and vacations to sunny destinations like Dubai.
His motivation is purely financial, as indicated by the question he asks the journalist: why “work legally for €1,800 net per month”?
To avoid scams with fake bank advisors, there are several best practices:
- Be wary: Be suspicious of unsolicited calls, texts or emails even if they appear to come from your bank.
- Never give sensitive information: a bank advisor will never ask you for your confidential codes, your passwords, your bank card number or a code received by SMS.
- Pay attention to the number: never call back the number displayed on your phone, use the official number of your bank.
- Contact your bank directly: you must always go through an official channel such as your bank number or at a branch.
- Do not install software or applications at the request of an advisor: this is obvious but never do it, it could be malware or any other virus.
- Report suspicious calls: Don’t hesitate to report calls to your bank and the authorities.
If, despite everything, a scammer has got the better of your vigilance, object, notify your bank and do not hesitate to make a report on cybermalveillance.gouv.fr who will be able to direct you.