Taxed numbers: how to recognize the signs of a fraudulent call?

The surtax is an additional cost in addition to the cost of a normal call. Costs associated with calls to a premium rate number are paid directly from your phone subscription bill.

When making a call to a premium-rate number, it must begin with an information message about the rate of the call. You are not charged for this message.

You may be charged for a call:

• per minute: e.g. € 0,50 per minute;
• irrespective of duration: e.g. €2 per call;
• by the minute and from the call: for example 2 € per call then 0,50 € per minute.

How do I recognize a premium-rate number?

Tax-free numbers are different from generic numbers. They may be composed of 4, 6 or 10 digits :

• special 10-digit numbers: they start with 081, 082 or 089;
• 4-digit short numbers: start with 10, or start with a number between 32 and 39;
• 6-digit short numbers: they start with 118.

Telephone operators must offer you a free option to block calls to certain premium-rate numbers.

In order to better recognize overcharged numbers, a color-coded tariff description has been put in place:

• numbers green : they are free;
• numbers grayish : only the price of a normal call is charged (depending on your telephone plan);
• numbers purple : This is a call to a toll-free number.

In what situation should we be more vigilant?

The Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF) warns you about 3 situations requiring special vigilance:

• An unknown number leaves you a text message or message on your answering machine : this may be a surcharged number. I'm looking into it on the inverted directory.
• You are encouraged to call a "click to call" number on the Internet : a website can give you the possibility to call a number, it can be a surcharged number. I'm looking into it on the inverted directory.
• On the Internet, be careful not to subscribe to an Internet+ subscription by mistake : This is a paid subscription that can be subscribed to without paying attention after many clicks. The cost is charged on the telephone bill, without providing bank details.

In case of doubt about the amount of your telephone bill or if you want to challenge a surcharged call

• You can submit a report on the website surmainvoice.fr.
• If you have not received a message at the beginning of a call informing you that a number is overcharged, you can report it on signal.conso.gouv.fr.
• In the event of an unsolicited message or call, you can report it by SMS to 33700 or on the www.33700.fr.