French Gendarmerie Issues Alert Over Fake Police Summons Using DGPN Logos
Citizens warned not to reply or pay as phishing scam circulates under official seal | Report phishing on signal-spam.fr and to PHISHING ([email protected])
NEW DELHI / PARIS, Aug 4, The French Gendarmerie Nationale has issued a public warning about a fake police summons being circulated to extort citizens, after a fabricated document bearing the logos of the French National Police went viral.
In an official post on its Facebook page on August 3 at 21:20 IST, the Gendarmerie shared an image of the fraudulent document titled "CONVOCATION", stamped with logos of the DGPN (Direction Générale de la Police Nationale) and other official emblems, to show citizens what the scam looks like.
According to the alert, the document is a phishing attempt and citizens should not reply to it or make any payment.
How the scam works
This type of fraud is a recurring phishing campaign in France. The fake summons typically refers to claimed "criminal prosecution for sexual offences" against the recipient and demands that the recipient contact an investigating officer or pay a fine to avoid prosecution.
Authorities have repeatedly clarified that The Police Department never sends summonses by email. Any official judicial convocation in France is served either by post with official letterhead, by a police officer, or handed over in person, never via an unsolicited email with threats of immediate arrest.
The fabricated notices often use intimidating language, official-looking seals, copied signatures of senior officials, and urgent deadlines to pressure victims into replying. Once a victim replies, scammers typically attempt to extract personal data, identity documents, or money transfers under the guise of "legal fees" or "settlement."
What to do if you receive it
The Gendarmerie Nationale advises:
- Do not reply, do not pay, do not click on any link or attachment in the document.
- Do not send identity documents, bank details, or money.
- Report it: Forward the phishing email to the French government phishing platform at signal-spam.fr and to PHISHING ([email protected]), then delete it.
- If you have already shared data or paid, file a complaint at your local police station or gendarmerie brigade immediately.
The Gendarmerie reminded citizens that phishing attempts using police identities are punishable by law and should be treated as cybercrime.
Citizens who are unsure about the authenticity of any summons can verify it by calling 17 or visiting their local Gendarmerie or Police Nationale station directly.
Source: Official Facebook post of Gendarmerie Nationale, dated 3 August, 21:20 IST [Link: https://www.facebook.com/gendarmerienationale/posts/pfbid02bi1SiA37jRn3nPT15kXxMdBmWptfEY1cgz778V5vJeyFBdjbSkvcXkB76NMk3MF7l]