Bank advisor scams exploded in 2025, rising by 34% year-on-year. This fraud, which involves impersonating a bank employee to obtain victims' access codes, allowed scammers to steal over €500 million from French households. The perpetrators often exploit personal data obtained during large-scale data breaches, making their approach particularly convincing.
A scam that preys on urgency
Victims receive a call or text message supposedly from their bank, alerting them to a suspicious transaction on their account. The fake advisor then asks them to confirm or cancel the transaction, requesting their PIN and login credentials. Psychological manipulation plays a central role in this scam, which thrives on an artificially created sense of urgency.
This financial crime is occurring within a context of increasing organized fraud in France . Authorities are urging maximum vigilance and reminding the public that no bank ever requests confidential codes by phone or text message.
