The trash can scam is booming. You have to be very wary to avoid getting scammed.
Scams are everywhere. In emails, 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 canvassing fraudulent home.
How it works ? 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 the money is pocketed, they will not change the containers as promised and will simply disappear.
You should know that garbage bins are generally not chargeable, they are provided by the city. The only rule is not to obstruct the public highway by taking them out, especially on collection days. If a trash can has a problem or an anomaly, simply contact the town hall so that it can be replaced.
The Boulonnais urban community in Pas-de-Calais had recently warned its residents on Facebook: “Fraudulent canvassing,” home, concerning 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 canvassing and the collection bins are free”.
The targets seem to be focused on the elderly or vulnerable. While this scam can cause money to be lost, it can also allow the criminals to commit a theft. It is best not to let such people into your home because they could take advantage of the situation 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, you can request a verification from the town hall with a simple phone call. It is best to be careful in such situations.