The Vaucluse gendarmerie calls on motorists to be vigilant in the face of a scam with false fine notices placed on the windshields of cars parked in Apt.
During this month of October, a well-crafted scam is rampant in the city center of Apt, particularly in the Calavon car parks. Several motorists have discovered fake traffic tickets. Posted on their windshield, they invite them to pay a fine online. In reality, these fake documents redirect to a fraudulent site. The goal of the scammers is to recover personal and banking information from victims.
A well-crafted scam in Vaucluse
The Vaucluse law enforcement agencies, who noticed the deception, reacted quickly. In a message published on Facebook, they call on residents to be extremely vigilant.
“For around ten days, several owners of vehicles parked in the Calavon or Apt city center car parkdiscovered a fine notice on their windshield. They are invited to connect to a website via a QR code in order to pay a fine. In addition to payment, they are asked to complete a questionnaire concerning their marital status and their banking references,” explain the Vaucluse gendarmes. “To date, several complaints have been filed and reports have been reported to us. »
Vigilance against “phishing” attempts
This type of scam, also known as “phishing”, aims to steal sensitive data. In this case, the following elements are particularly targeted: tax number, driving license number, identity card or passport, certification of transfer or destruction of vehicle, etc.
To avoid scams, the Vaucluse gendarmerie reminds that the only official site for settling a fine is that of the National Agency for the Automated Processing of Offenses (ANTAI) : https://www.antai.gouv.fr. Also, no administration asks for banking details or passwords in messaging or by telephone.
If in doubt, it is advisable to go directly to the gendarmerie or check the site URL to avoid any fraud attempts. Caution is therefore advised, as this scam could easily spread.
