Limonest, Rhône – In 2025, the commune of Limonest, situated west of Lyon, registered the highest rate of scams per capita in the Rhône department. This concerning trend has prompted the gendarmerie to shed light on the factors contributing to the area’s particular vulnerability to various forms of fraud.
Limonest: A High Concentration of Scam Victims
According to the 2025 crime figures released by the Ministry of Interior’s statistical service, Limonest was the most impacted municipality in the department by scams and payment card fraud. A total of 52 victims were reported in Limonest during the year, representing 1.3% of the town’s inhabitants. While this marks a slight decrease from the peak of 2.1% in 2019, the figures remain significantly high.
Lieutenant François of the Limonest Gendarmerie, when questioned by actu Lyon, expressed little surprise at these statistics, highlighting the significant economic activity in Limonest.
Economic Hub Techlid a Prime Target
“We have the Techlid economic hub in our area, with headquarters that are particularly targeted by scams,” stated Lieutenant François. She also clarified that “abuses of trust are also included in this count, for example, with a rental car that has not been returned.” Victims are counted in the ministry’s figures based on their place of residence, and certain patterns have been identified.
Common Scam Methods Targeting Residents
The gendarmerie has observed several recurring scam phenomena, often appearing in waves:
- Fraudulent bank withdrawals without card theft: Victims are directed to a platform to report these incidents, as the gendarmerie no longer takes complaints for such cases.
- Telephone networks impersonating bank advisors: Scammers pose as bank advisors, misleading victims into believing they are preventing fraudulent payments.
- Fake courier scams: Widespread in the Rhône, this involves phone calls informing victims of ongoing identity theft and instructing them to hand over their bank card to a courier.
- ATM card skimming: Malefactors discreetly obtain payment methods at ATMs by observing PIN entries, then proceed to make fraudulent withdrawals.
Organized Networks Behind the Scams
Lieutenant François indicated that the scammers she pursues operate “most of the time in organized networks, especially for fake couriers, with ‘foot soldiers’ recruited to collect bank cards and who receive a commission.”
In February, the Limonest gendarmerie successfully apprehended one individual involved in such a network, thanks to an elderly person who, sensing something suspicious, promptly alerted the authorities. While a young man is being investigated, the masterminds behind these operations have so far evaded capture.
Gendarmerie Emphasizes Prevention and Support for Victims
Lieutenant François stressed that she “does not blame the victims.” She explained, “The perpetrators are the problem. It must be remembered that their methods are extremely well-honed, with effective confidence-building techniques that often target isolated and/or vulnerable individuals.”
In addition to investigations, law enforcement agencies are actively engaged in prevention efforts. These include organizing public meetings and sessions with mayors of local communes, disseminating alerts about current scam trends on social media, and providing crucial advice: contact your bank in case of doubt, and never disclose your banking details.
The gendarmerie encourages anyone who suspects a scam or requires assistance to contact them directly.
Source: https://actu.fr/auvergne-rhone-alpes/limonest_69116/les-habitants-de-cette-commune-pres-de-lyon-sont-les-plus-touches-par-les-arnaques-les-gendarmes-expliquent-pourquoi_64369605.html
