Two cities have just paid the price for this formidable scam which occurs every year in November and December.
At the end of the year, most French people are used to being more solicited, whether by direct sellers, stores and their promotional offers. It’s even quite common during this period, which is marked by the excitement of the holidays and the approach of winter sales. Professionals are aware of this and generally increase discounts and advertising campaigns to capture the attention of consumers. Yes, but among all these requests, there is one that attracts the attention of the authorities because it is sneaky and causes many victims. You may have experienced it one day without knowing it…
This is the calendar scam. In principle, the sale of calendars is a well-established tradition which helps support the professionals (firefighters, postmen, garbage collectors, etc.) who help citizens on a daily basis. These true professionals go from house to house to sell their calendar and in return, everyone gives what they can: a ticket or a few coins. A boon for scammers, who take advantage of it to deceive people. This year, reports have already been reported in Strasbourg and Mayenne.
Direct sellers pose as fake professionals. They knock on your front door, wearing their best smile, they introduce themselves to you and “once inside (from your home, editor’s note)are likely, through trickery or taking advantage of moments of inattention, to steal money or valuable goods from you”, alerted the Aveyron gendarmerie last year in a Facebook post. In the city and Eurometropolis of Strasbourg, for example, fake sellers claimed to sell calendars from the community’s waste collection and recovery service.
A well-honed strategy, which often leaves victims stunned. But then, how can you not be fooled? The Mayenne gendarmerie recently reminded Facebook to always ask for the seller’s professional card before doing anything. You can also check that there is “the official logo of the institution on the calendar”, say the authorities. And even if he seems reliable to you, never let a stranger into your home.
Please also note that only a few professionals are authorized to go door to door to sell their calendars: postal workers if they do it outside of their working hours, firefighters if they have authorization from the prefecture and garbage collectors, according to municipal policy. If in doubt, call the police or gendarmerie. Providing prevention to the elderly people around you is also strongly recommended!