Planning a road trip? Watch out for these new scams on French toll roads.

Anyone planning a road trip to France soon would do well to be extra vigilant at toll roads. Scammers are cleverly exploiting the fact that you can now drive through many toll gates.

Holidaymakers are being warned about this new scam on French toll roads.

At several French toll gates, you can now simply drive through without having to pay anything immediately. The barriers at these toll gates have been replaced by automatic license plate recognition. The French government implemented this to promote free flow and reduce congestion .

If you have a Télépéage pass, the amount due will be automatically debited. If you don't have one, you'll need to pay online via the motorway authority's website. If you don't do this within 72 hours, you could receive a fine. In addition, some motorways offer the option of pre-paying the toll.

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The new system is confusing many people, and criminals are cleverly exploiting this. They send people fraudulent emails or text messages containing fake payment reminders. These reminders often involve small amounts, making people more likely to pay. This is also because they often include slogans like "final reminder" or "pay quickly to avoid a fine." The emails and text messages look legitimate, but they aren't. They contain a payment link requiring you to share your banking details or pay, allowing criminals to obtain your online banking login credentials.

Local French authorities are warning holidaymakers never to fall for such messages. Communication with French authorities always takes place through official domains such as '@ulys.com' or '@vinci-autoroutes.com'. It's also important that you never respond to unexpected text messages from unknown '06' or '07' numbers or click on links in such messages. For those who regularly drive to France, it's useful to purchase a télépéage pass. It costs just two euros per month, and that way, you'll never have to worry about outstanding balances.

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