Fraud linked to an Internet purchase

Verified 26 April 2023 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)

You're an adult

What to do if you are a victim of an offense related to an Internet purchase?

The means of recourse depend on the type of site: classified ads site (the right corner, e-bay...) or false sales site.

The good (or service) is not in conformity

If the good or service does not conform to your order, you can enter the Directorate for Competition and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF).

You did not receive the good (or service)

You didn't receive anything on time? Received a good not related to the order? In this case, contact customer service.

If your customer service interaction did not resolve your issue, you should contact the DGCCRF.

If the customer service does not exist or is not respondingNow, this is a scam called fake sales site.

You can file a complaint (online, on-site or by mail) or make a report (online).

  • The complaint is the act by which a victim of an offense informs the judicial authority.
    When you file a complaint, you must give your identity. This approach is binding on you and investigators can contact you. The complaint also provides an opportunity to seek compensation for the damage suffered and to be informed of the follow-up given to the case.
  • The alert consists solely in informing the investigation services of the existence of an infringement. You can remain anonymous. You will not be informed of the outcome of the case. You will not be able to claim compensation.
On the spot

You have to go to a police station or a gendarme brigade.

Who shall I contact

You may not be refused the receipt of the complaint.

The complaint is then forwarded to the public prosecutor.

Before going to the police station or the gendarmerie, you can fill in a pre-complaint online if you are the victim of an attack on property (theft, scam...) whose perpetrator is unknown to you. You will then get an appointment and the police or gendarmes will already have the elements of your complaint upon your arrival.

Online Pre-Complaint

By mail

You can file a complaint with the public prosecutor.

To do this, you must send an email to the court of law of the place of the offense or of the domicile of the offender.

Who shall I contact

Your mail should include the following:

  • Your marital status and full contact information (address and telephone number)
  • Detailed account of the facts, date and place of the offense
  • Name of the alleged perpetrator if known (otherwise, the complaint will be filed against X)
  • Names and addresses of any witnesses to the offense
  • Description and provisional or definitive estimate of the damage
  • Your proof documents: medical certificates, work stoppages, miscellaneous invoices, findings...
  • Your eventual willingness to become a civil party

You can use the following mail template:

File a complaint with the public prosecutor

You can send your complaint by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, by simple letter or by letter followed.

You can also file your complaint directly at the courthouse.

In any case, a receipt is given to you as soon as the Public Prosecutor's Office has registered your complaint.

You can also call Info Scams.

Who shall I contact

If you have already filed a complaint with the police or police for these facts, you can make a report and attach a copy of your complaint or the receipt of the complaint:

Report a fake commercial site (THESEE)

If you have already filed a THESEE complaint for these facts, you can file a supplement in your dashboard:

Dashboard (THESEE)

You wanted to buy a property listed on an ad with photo(s) online and you feel you have been deceived by the seller.

Your remedies depend on the situation.

The good (or service) is not in conformity

You should contact the seller (directly or through the site) and then check if you have received a response.

If you have not been able to reach him, you are the victim of an act that could be described as a scam or false salesman.

You can file a complaint (online, on-site or by mail) or make a report (online).

  • The complaint is the act by which a victim of an offense informs the judicial authority.
    When you file a complaint, you must give your identity. This approach is binding on you and investigators can contact you. The complaint also provides an opportunity to seek compensation for the damage suffered and to be informed of the follow-up given to the case.
  • The alert consists solely in informing the investigation services of the existence of an infringement. You can remain anonymous. You will not be informed of the outcome of the case. You will not be able to claim compensation.
On the spot

You have to go to a police station or a gendarme brigade.

Who shall I contact

You may not be refused the receipt of the complaint.

The complaint is then forwarded to the public prosecutor.

Before going to the police station or the gendarmerie, you can fill in a pre-complaint online if you are the victim of an attack on property (theft, scam...) whose perpetrator is unknown to you. You will then get an appointment and the police or gendarmes will already have the elements of your complaint upon your arrival.

Online Pre-Complaint

By mail

You can file a complaint with the public prosecutor.

To do this, you must send an email to the court of law of the place of the offense or of the domicile of the offender.

Who shall I contact

Your mail should include the following:

  • Your marital status and full contact information (address and telephone number)
  • Detailed account of the facts, date and place of the offense
  • Name of the alleged perpetrator if known (otherwise, the complaint will be filed against X)
  • Names and addresses of any witnesses to the offense
  • Description and provisional or definitive estimate of the damage
  • Your proof documents: medical certificates, work stoppages, miscellaneous invoices, findings...
  • Your eventual willingness to become a civil party

You can use the following mail template:

File a complaint with the public prosecutor

You can send your complaint by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, by simple letter or by letter followed.

You can also file your complaint directly at the courthouse.

In any case, a receipt is given to you as soon as the Public Prosecutor's Office has registered your complaint.

Please note

if the seller is a professional, enter the Directorate for Competition and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF).

You can also call Info Scams.

Who shall I contact

If you have already filed a complaint in the police or gendarmerie for these facts, you can make a report:

Report a scam to the classified ad (fake seller) - THESEE

If you have already filed a THESEE complaint for these facts, you can file a supplement in your dashboard:

Dashboard (THESEE)

You did not receive the good (or service)

If you have not received anything, you must contact the individual (directly or through the site) and return to the portal to check if you have received a response.

If you have not been able to contact the seller, this is a scam called false salesman.

You can file a complaint (online, on-site or by mail) or make a report (online).

  • The complaint is the act by which a victim of an offense informs the judicial authority.
    When you file a complaint, you must give your identity. This approach is binding on you and investigators can contact you. The complaint also provides an opportunity to seek compensation for the damage suffered and to be informed of the follow-up given to the case.
  • The alert consists solely in informing the investigation services of the existence of an infringement. You can remain anonymous. You will not be informed of the outcome of the case. You will not be able to claim compensation.
Online

To file a complaint against the fake seller:

File a complaint for a scam ad (fake seller) - THESEE

To report the violation:

Report a scam to the classified ad (fake seller) - THESEE

On the spot

You have to go to a police station or a gendarme brigade.

Who shall I contact

You may not be refused the receipt of the complaint.

The complaint is then forwarded to the public prosecutor.

Before going to the police station or the gendarmerie, you can fill in a pre-complaint online if you are the victim of an attack on property (theft, scam...) whose perpetrator is unknown to you. You will then get an appointment and the police or gendarmes will already have the elements of your complaint upon your arrival.

Online Pre-Complaint

By mail

You can file a complaint with the public prosecutor.

To do this, you must send an email to the court of law of the place of the offense or of the domicile of the offender.

Who shall I contact

Your mail should include the following:

  • Your marital status and full contact information (address and telephone number)
  • Detailed account of the facts, date and place of the offense
  • Name of the alleged perpetrator if known (otherwise, the complaint will be filed against X)
  • Names and addresses of any witnesses to the offense
  • Description and provisional or definitive estimate of the damage
  • Your proof documents: medical certificates, work stoppages, miscellaneous invoices, findings...
  • Your eventual willingness to become a civil party

You can use the following mail template:

File a complaint with the public prosecutor

You can send your complaint by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, by simple letter or by letter followed.

You can also file your complaint directly at the courthouse.

In any case, a receipt is given to you as soon as the Public Prosecutor's Office has registered your complaint.

You can also call Info Scams.

Who shall I contact

If you have already filed a complaint in the police or gendarmerie for these facts, you can make a report:

Report a scam to the classified ad (fake seller) - THESEE

If you have already filed a THESEE complaint for these facts, you can file a supplement in your dashboard:

Dashboard (THESEE)

You're a minor

What to do if you are a victim of an offense related to an Internet purchase?

The means of recourse depend on the type of site: classified ads site (the right corner, e-bay...) or false sales site.

The good (or service) is not in conformity

If the good or service does not conform to your order, it is necessary to seize the Directorate for Competition and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF).

You did not receive the good (or service)

You didn't receive anything on time? Received a good not related to the order? In this case, contact customer service.

If your customer service interaction did not resolve your issue, you should contact the DGCCRF.

If the customer service does not exist or is not respondingHowever, this is a scam called "fake sales site".

You can file a complaint or make a report.

  • The complaint is the act by which a victim of an offense informs the judicial authority.
    When you file a complaint, you must give your identity. This approach is binding on you and investigators can contact you. The complaint also provides an opportunity to seek compensation for the damage suffered and to be informed of the follow-up given to the case.
  • The alert consists solely in informing the investigation services of the existence of an infringement. You can remain anonymous. You will not be informed of the outcome of the case. You will not be able to claim compensation.
File a complaint (on site)

You have to go to a police station or a gendarme brigade.

Who shall I contact

You may not be refused the receipt of the complaint.

The complaint is then forwarded to the public prosecutor.

Before going to the police station or the gendarmerie, you can fill in a pre-complaint online if you are the victim of an attack on property (theft, scam...) whose perpetrator is unknown to you. You will then get an appointment and the police or gendarmes will already have the elements of your complaint upon your arrival.

Online Pre-Complaint

You can also call Info Scams.

Who shall I contact

You wanted to buy a property listed on an ad with photo(s) online and you feel you have been deceived by the seller.

The goods purchased are not in conformity

You should contact the seller (directly or through the site) and then check if you have received a response.

If you have not been able to reach him, you are the victim of an act that could be described as a scam or false salesman. You can file a complaint or make a report.

  • The complaint is the act by which a victim of an offense informs the judicial authority.
    When you file a complaint, you must give your identity. This approach is binding on you and investigators can contact you. The complaint also provides an opportunity to seek compensation for the damage suffered and to be informed of the follow-up given to the case.
  • The alert consists solely in informing the investigation services of the existence of an infringement. You can remain anonymous. You will not be informed of the outcome of the case. You will not be able to claim compensation.
File a complaint (on site)

You have to go to a police station or a gendarme brigade.

Who shall I contact

You may not be refused the receipt of the complaint.

The complaint is then forwarded to the public prosecutor.

Before going to the police station or the gendarmerie, you can fill in a pre-complaint online if you are the victim of an attack on property (theft, scam...) whose perpetrator is unknown to you. You will then get an appointment and the police or gendarmes will already have the elements of your complaint upon your arrival.

Online Pre-Complaint

Please note

if the seller is a professional, enter the Directorate for Competition and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF).

You did not receive the good (or service)

If you have not received anything, you must contact the individual (directly or through the site) and return to the portal to check if you have received a response.

If you have not been able to contact the seller, this is a scam called false salesman. You can file a complaint or make a report.

  • The complaint is the act by which a victim of an offense informs the judicial authority.
    When you file a complaint, you must give your identity. This approach is binding on you and investigators can contact you. The complaint also provides an opportunity to seek compensation for the damage suffered and to be informed of the follow-up given to the case.
  • The alert consists solely in informing the investigation services of the existence of an infringement. You can remain anonymous. You will not be informed of the outcome of the case. You will not be able to claim compensation.
File a complaint (on site)

You have to go to a police station or a gendarme brigade.

Who shall I contact

You may not be refused the receipt of the complaint.

The complaint is then forwarded to the public prosecutor.

Before going to the police station or the gendarmerie, you can fill in a pre-complaint online if you are the victim of an attack on property (theft, scam...) whose perpetrator is unknown to you. You will then get an appointment and the police or gendarmes will already have the elements of your complaint upon your arrival.

Online Pre-Complaint

You can also call Info Scams.

Who shall I contact