What can a scam victim of a fake buyer do on the internet?
Verified 25 February 2021 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
You're an adult
You wanted to sell a good or a service on the Internet and you feel that you are being deceived by the buyer
If you wanted to send a good or perform a service but were not fully paid, you can file a complaint or report this violation.
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.
To file a complaint:
File a complaint for scam ad (fake buyer) - THESEE
To report:
On the spot
You have to go to a police station or a gendarme brigade.
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.
By mail
You must write directly to the public prosecutor. We need to send a free-form letter in the court of the place of the offense or of the domicile of the offender.
The letter must state:
- the complainant's full marital status and full contact details (address and telephone number),
- a detailed account of the facts, the date and place of the infringement,
- the name of the alleged perpetrator if you know him (otherwise, you should file a complaint against X),
- the names and addresses of any witnesses to this offense,
- the description and provisional or definitive estimate of the damage,
- documents of evidence: medical certificates of injury, work stoppages, miscellaneous invoices, records in case of material damage.
Who shall I contact
You can send your complaint by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt but it is not mandatory, you can send a simple letter. In any case, a receipt will be given to you as soon as the prosecutor has registered your complaint.
Before paying you, the buyer may ask you to pay money under the pretext of paying different fees. If to convince you, he presented you with false documents (website, check, emails) containing false information, these facts are likely to be qualified as a scam also called false buyer.
You can file a complaint or report this violation.
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.
To file a complaint:
File a complaint for scam ad (fake buyer) - THESEE
To report:
On the spot
You have to go to a police station or a gendarme brigade.
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.
By mail
You must write directly to the public prosecutor. We need to send a free-form letter in the court of the place of the offense or of the domicile of the offender.
The letter must state:
- the complainant's full marital status and full contact details (address and telephone number),
- a detailed account of the facts, the date and place of the infringement,
- the name of the alleged perpetrator if you know him (otherwise, you should file a complaint against X),
- the names and addresses of any witnesses to this offense,
- the description and provisional or definitive estimate of the damage,
- documents of evidence: medical certificates of injury, work stoppages, miscellaneous invoices, records in case of material damage.
Who shall I contact
You can send your complaint by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt but it is not mandatory, you can send a simple letter. In any case, a receipt will be given to you as soon as the prosecutor has registered your complaint.
You're a minor
You wanted to sell a good or a service on the Internet and you feel that you are being deceived by the buyer
If you wanted to send a good or perform a service but were not fully paid, you can file a complaint or report this violation.
- 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.
Report (online)
File a complaint (on site)
You have to go to a police station or a gendarme brigade.
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.
Before paying you, the buyer may ask you to pay money under the pretext of paying different fees.
If, in order to convince you, he presented you with false documents (website, check, emails) containing false information, these facts are likely to be described as a scam also called "false buyer".
You can file a complaint or report this violation.
- 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.
Report (online)
File a complaint (on site)
You have to go to a police station or a gendarme brigade.
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.