Registration fraud: 15 Vendée garages hit, €1.5 million in damages
The FNA has identified 15 garages affected in Vendée by registration system fraud, with an estimated loss of €1.5 million in the Pays de la Loire region.
Vendée, department most affected by vehicle registration fraud
According to ici.fr, the National Automobile Federation (FNA) held a press conference on Tuesday 3 March 2026 to present the results of its inquiry into fraud affecting the vehicle registration system (SIV). The Pays de la Loire region is the most affected at national level, and Vendée stands out as the hardest-hit department: 15 garages have been identified by the FNA.
The total loss for garages in the region is estimated at €1.5 million. The FNA is mobilising to defend the professionals concerned, helping them to contest the penalties and payment notices they received even though they themselves are victims of the fraud.
The methods used by fraudsters vary. Stéphanie, secretary at a garage in Les Herbiers, describes the scale of the intrusion suffered: "In just a few hours, the fraudster took control of my computer, during the night, from midnight to ten in the morning and generated over 400 vehicle registration certificates." The perpetrators use several techniques: telephone calls impersonating prefectural officials, emails imitating official addresses, phishing in the context of updating authorisations, or remote takeover of computer systems.
The financial consequences directly threaten the viability of some businesses. Jonathan, manager of a garage in Beaulieu-sous-la-Roche, sums up the situation: "We are asking for the cancellation of this debt which we are not responsible for and which weighs on us every day. If we actually have to pay it, we can close the business."
The FNA reminds garages that as soon as fraud is detected, they are required to file a complaint for each instance of registration fraud recorded.
Source: Google News FR — Crime (fr)