France authorities warn of rising bank and AI-driven SMS scams

Authorities in France are warning the public about a rise in sophisticated fraudulent schemes targeting citizens through phone calls and text messages.

In the Gers department, a wave of fake bank advisor scams has been reported. Within just five days, fourteen victims filed complaints after receiving calls from individuals posing as members of a bank’s fraud or security department. These scammers exploit trust and panic to steal amounts ranging from 400 to 3,000 euros per victim.

Simultaneously, police in Maine-et-Loire have issued an alert regarding a new form of SMS phishing, or ‘smishing,’ that utilizes artificial intelligence. In these scams, victims receive a text message about an imminent parcel delivery accompanied by a highly realistic, AI-generated image of a delivery driver in uniform. The image is designed to build credibility and trick recipients into clicking fraudulent links to pay customs fees or reschedule deliveries, ultimately leading to the theft of sensitive personal and banking information.