The trash scam is booming. You have to be very wary to avoid getting scammed.
Scams are everywhere. In emails, in stores, on the highway, but also right outside your home. A new scam is developing in some French municipalities: it is called the trash can scam. It is characterized by fraudulent door-to-door sales.
How does it work? Criminals go to people’s homes to replace their household waste bins. They pretend to be municipal agents on a mission. To convince their victims, they often assure them that the regulations have changed or that the current containers are obsolete. They then ask them for a certain sum of money in exchange for the replacement. This amount is usually around ten euros. Once they have pocketed the money, they will not change the containers as promised and will simply disappear.
You should know that garbage bins are generally free of charge, they are provided by the city. The only rule is not to obstruct the public highway when taking them out, especially on collection days. If a trash can has a problem or an anomaly, simply contact the city hall so that it can be replaced.
The Boulonnais urban community in Pas-de-Calais recently warned its residents on Facebook: “Fraudulent door-to-door sales for the replacement of collection bins are underway in the municipalities of Le Portel, Equihen-Plage and Wimereux. The CAB does not carry out door-to-door sales and the collection bins are free.”
The targets appear to be the elderly or vulnerable. While this scam can result in money loss, it can also allow the perpetrators to commit theft. It is best not to let such people into your home as they could take advantage of the opportunity to steal valuables or scout out locations for a future burglary.
To take precautions, the best technique is to ask the person you are talking to for their professional card. If the document seems fake, it is possible to request a verification from the town hall with a simple phone call. It is better to be careful in such situations.