Massive French Data Leaks Trigger Surge in Fake Crypto Support Calls

French crypto users are facing a wave of phone scams after large-scale data breaches exposed personal information. The scams involve callers posing as support staff from legitimate exchanges and urging victims to transfer crypto to a “secure” address.

Data breaches fuel scam targeting

Owen “Hasheur” Simonin, founder and CEO of Meria, warned that recent leaks in both private companies and the public sector have given scammers a list of crypto holders and the platforms they use. An August breach at the French tax agency (DGFiP) exposed the data of 678,000 taxpayers, intensifying the overall rise in crypto‑related crime.

Scam playbook and warning signs

Scammers follow a consistent script: they claim the victim’s account is compromised, create urgency, and request an immediate transfer to a “safe” wallet. Simonin emphasized that legitimate services will not contact users out of the blue, nor ask for transactions or personal details unless the user has initiated a specific request.

Future outlook

Simonin predicts the problem will expand as threat actors adopt AI tools to automate calls and refine social‑engineering tactics, increasing the volume of fraudulent contacts.

Impact on the French crypto ecosystem

The surge in phone scams adds to a broader trend of crypto crime in France, which includes violent “wrench” attacks where perpetrators use force to steal digital assets.