Toll scam : Thousands of motorists trapped
Do you use the French motorways during the summer holidays? Be on your guard. Indeed, "free flow" barriers are now installed at some toll booths, which means that you no longer have to take out your bank card directly. However, scammers are taking advantage of the system...
Present in countries such as Spain and Portugal, so-called "free-flow" barriers have appeared in recent months at certain toll booths in France, including the A13, A14, A4 and A79 motorways. How does it work? A scanner reads your license plate and you pay later, via an online platform, at a tobacconist or via an electronic toll payment badge. Payment must be made within 72 hours to avoid a fine.
However, it didn't take long before scammers seized on this novelty to try to steal motorists' money. "The private operators of French motorways are warning that thousands of motorists, including Belgians, have been receiving fake SMS or e-mails for several weeks telling them that an amount is still due (often around 6.80 euros). The well-designed message uses the official logos and colours of the Ulys electronic toll collection service (a subsidiary of Vinci Autoroutes) and contains a link to a fake website. The objective: to encourage motorists to enter their bank details. And obviously, once the click is made, the trap closes," explains the GoCar website.
Unaware of how the system works, motorists prefer to pay the "low" amount of 6.8 euros demanded by the scammers rather than risk the fine that can rise to 375 euros after two months of delay.
To avoid falling into the trap
However, motorway companies remind you that they never send SMS or emails with a link to a payment. In addition, their addresses always end in official domain names like @ulys.com, @vinci-autoroutes.com.
Do you have any doubts about the origin of the message? Go to the company's official website.
Also important: never send your bank details by email or SMS. If you have started the process, contact CardStop (078 170 170) immediately.
To be safe, you can also opt for an electronic toll payment badge at the price of 2 euros per month, only charged in the months you use it.
Source: Federal Police