Guides / Filing a police report & reporting
Guide
Filing a police report and reporting a cyber incident: which channels to use
The right channel depends on what happened: bank fraud, account hacking, blackmail, a fake website, identity theft or access to a device. Prepare a short timeline and the main documents before you make your report or file your complaint.
Do this right away
Three reflexes even before choosing a channel: secure what can be secured (accounts, devices, blocking your bank card without delay), don’t delete anything (messages, emails and logs are evidence), and never hand over new codes, even to a so-called “help service”.
Act in the right order
A solid police report relies on evidence kept from the start. We always separate what is observed from what is assumed.
Secure, then document
An effective police report rests on organised facts. Before asking yourself “where do I report this?”, put what you can out of harm’s way, then gather what you need to present a readable file, without ever altering the original evidence.
Put together a clear file
- A dated timeline of events, from the first contact to today.
- Useful screenshots, and the emails and texts you received.
- The bank statements concerned and the transaction references.
- The contact details used by the perpetrator: numbers, IBANs, profiles, links.
- Receipts you already have (card block, report, main courante, a statement logged with the police).
The aim is not to be exhaustive at the first attempt, but to have a file to hand that a third party can understand. You will add to it as you go.
Which service for which situation
Each official tool has a specific role, and they often complement each other.
Police report (police station / gendarmerie)
The main route if you have suffered a loss. An online pre-complaint lets you prepare your filing and save time at the desk.
THESEE
Online police report or report for online fraud: fake websites, scams, fake tech support, online blackmail.
Perceval
To report bank card fraud when you still have your card. You get a receipt that is useful for the bank, but it does not replace a police report.
PHAROS
To report illegal content: threats, hate content, scams spread online.
Additional help desks and reporting services
Other services guide you, raise the alarm or stop the nuisance.
Cybermalveillance.gouv.fr
One-stop service: it assesses your situation, points you to the right course of action, and offers quick-reference sheets and a directory of local providers.
33700 / Signal Spam
Report fraudulent texts and calls to get the numbers shut down.
Blocking
Block your card or chequebook without delay and keep an eye on your accounts.
The mistakes to avoid
These mistakes are easy to avoid if you know about them in advance.
Don’t delete anything
Messages, emails and logs are evidence. Even embarrassing exchanges can help your file.
Don’t confuse a report with a police report
A report alerts the authorities but does not always open an individual investigation. A police report starts criminal proceedings.
Don’t wait if you have suffered a loss
When you have lost money, time limits apply. Block your card and file without delay.
Never hand over new codes
No legitimate “help service” will ask you for a password, a code received by text or your full card number. Neither will we, ever.
Your questions
Report or police report: what’s the difference?
A report (PHAROS, Perceval, 33700) alerts the authorities but does not necessarily open an individual investigation. A police report starts criminal proceedings and is generally needed to claim for a loss in the criminal courts.
Can I file a police report online?
Yes for online fraud, through THESEE, or by preparing your filing through the online pre-complaint. Where you have suffered a loss, filing a police report remains the standard procedure.
Does Perceval replace a police report?
No. Perceval reports card fraud and provides a receipt that is useful for the bank, but it does not replace a police report if you have suffered a loss.
Where should I start?
Secure things and block your card, gather your evidence, then choose the right channel. If in doubt, Cybermalveillance.gouv.fr points you to the right procedure.
Can Galyct Perso file a police report for me?
No. We help assess the facts and prepare a clear, usable file for your formal steps; filing a police report remains something you do in person.
Unsure what to do next?
The free pre-diagnosis assesses your situation, identifies the useful evidence and tells you whether you need a technical intervention, a report or simply some support. Galyct Perso informs and supports you, but does not replace your bank, the police or a lawyer, and will never ask for your codes.
More guides & situations
Depending on what you are going through, these pages point you to the right reflexes.
Your situation
Bank fraud, hacked account, fake support, blackmail: the page for your case.
See the situations →Request a call back
A single point of contact, with no script and no judgement, to secure and document things with you.
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