04/07/2024
Question that inspired this post:
SCAM WARNING - just had a text message from 0628631968. It says it’s from Ameli and starts “Following the verification of your dossier you must resend……” don’t know what the rest says as I’ve deleted it. I know it’s a scam as I’ve not even submitted my dossier yet! Unless they’re psychic now and know it’s next on my list of things to do?
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It is absolutely right to be suspicious of that text message - it's a scam attempt.
Here's what you need to know:
Ameli (the French national health insurance) does not send SMS messages requesting personal information or asking you to "resend" your dossier. Any such message is fraudulent.
The fact that you haven't even submitted your dossier yet confirms this is a phishing attempt. Scammers often use vague language about "verifications" or "updates" to try and trick people.
You did the right thing by deleting the message and not clicking on any links. Never click on links in suspicious SMS messages, as they can lead to malicious websites.
To report this scam attempt:
Forward the SMS (without modifying it) to 33700. This is the official spam reporting number in France.
After forwarding, you'll receive a message from 33700 asking you to complete the report by sending the phone number that sent the scam SMS.
You can also report the scam attempt on the government's official reporting platform: internet-signalement.gouv.fr.
For future reference, here are some tips to identify scam SMS messages:
Ameli and other official organizations will not ask for personal or banking information via SMS.
Be wary of urgent requests or threats of account suspension.
Check for spelling errors or unusual phrasing, which is common in scam messages.
Suppose you're ever unsure about a message claiming to be from Ameli. In that case, you can always log into your official Ameli account or contact them directly through official channels to verify any requests.
Stay vigilant, and remember that your personal information and health data are valuable - legitimate organizations will have secure ways of communicating with you that don't involve unsolicited SMS messages.
Reach out to us through Discord, we are very active. Please pass by 💙.
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