French travelers' rights and refund scams highlighted after train and flight cancellations

European regulation obliges rail operators such as SNCF and Ouigo to offer passengers either re‑routing without extra cost or a full ticket refund when a train is cancelled or delayed more than one hour. Compensation of at least 25 % of the fare applies for delays of one to two hours and 50 % for longer delays, unless extraordinary circumstances such as severe weather, terrorism or sabotage occur. Passengers are also entitled to reasonable assistance, including meals, hotel accommodation and transport to the hotel, with reimbursement possible if no alternative is provided within 90 minutes.

A separate investigation found that travelers seeking refunds after flight cancellations are being targeted by fraudulent groups on social media. These fake assistance services, often posing as airline customer support, lure victims into providing personal and banking details through phishing messages and counterfeit payment apps. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has warned that such scams exploit the urgency of delayed refunds, aiming to steal sensitive data and money from passengers.