# SIM-swap fraud and identity theft in France

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/sim-swap-fraud-and-identity-theft-in-france
> Updated: 2026-08-31T04:49:04.000Z. Sources: 3. Developments: 2.

Authorities and legal rulings in France have highlighted the increasing risks of SIM-swap fraud and identity theft. A court order required the credit provider Cetelem to compensate a customer after a SIM-swap attack enabled unauthorized purchases, reinforcing a legal presumption that cardholders act in good faith during unauthorized payments.

Following these developments, the Gendarmerie de la Somme issued a specific warning regarding how cybercriminals hijack mobile numbers to drain bank accounts. The process involves using stolen personal information to impersonate victims and generate instant eSIMs, which causes the victim’s device to lose network connectivity. This allows attackers to intercept SMS-based two-factor authentication codes to bypass banking security. Experts recommend transitioning from SMS-based authentication to dedicated authentication apps to mitigate these risks.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-31: Gendarmerie de la Somme warns of SIM swapping scams

French authorities are warning against SIM swapping scams, where hackers hijack mobile numbers via eSIM to intercept banking codes and drain accounts following a sudden loss of cellular service.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/gendarmerie-de-la-somme-warns-of-sim-swapping-scams

### 2026-08-01: SIM‑swap fraud and social‑media hacks raise consumer protection concerns

Cetelem must compensate a victim of SIM‑swap fraud in France, while new advice warns of Facebook hacks and outlines recovery steps.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/simswap-fraud-and-socialmedia-hacks-raise-consumer-protection-concerns

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Cite as: SIM-swap fraud and identity theft in France. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/sim-swap-fraud-and-identity-theft-in-france