Beware this ‘bin change’ scam doing the rounds in France

A town in south-west France is warning residents over a new ‘bin change’ scam. 

Fraudsters in Auch (Gers) have been going door-to-door claiming to be from the local mairie and asking residents if they would like to change the size of their bins.

They claim the changes cost €10, which they then collect on-the-spot.

However, the scammers are just after your money, and no changes to your bins will be made.

“Faced with such practices by unscrupulous people, the town council… wishes to make it clear that the containers are changed free of charge and only by agents wearing their working clothes, with the local authority's logo,” said the mairie to local media La Dépêche. 

Residents in the department who wish to change their bins because they are too large, small, or have been damaged can contact the relevant service at 05 62 61 21 30 (only if they live in the Auch conurbation).

Ask to see identity

The authorities informed local media after several warnings about the scam being perpetrated.

Other communes across France may also be affected – the mairie in Saint-Jean-de-Losne in the Côte-d’Or department has also raised warnings over the scam. 

If people knock at your door asking you about changing your bins, ask to see official identification that they work for the mairie, and check they are wearing an official uniform – showing the logo of the commune or area. 

If you are still unsure, contact the local mairie to see if the offer is legitimate. 

Alternative versions of the scam also see scammers claim rules have changed and ordering a new bin is mandatory as opposed to optional – The Connexion covered this in a previous article. 

Read more: New scam over household bins in France: how to avoid being caught out