Entrepreneurs: beware of fake invoices

By Valérie Aston on 27 February 2010 · Viewed 4410 times · Questions

Every month seems to bring its quota of auto entrepreneurs scams. From paying auto entrepreneur registration sites to fake business directories. The latest scam is actually aimed at all types of entrepreneurs, including limited companies (EURL, SARL).

The ‘‘Greffes du Tribunal de Paris’’ has issued a warning to limited companies and freelancers registered with Registre du Commerce et des Societes (RCS, i.e registrations onto the Chamber of Commerce directory). These companies are likely to get commercial offers designed to look like invoices from Registre des Sociétés Nouvellement ConstituéesRegistre CSR or Inforegistre . The invoices have nothing to do with Greffes du Tribunal or Registre National du Commerce et des Societes (managed by INPI). 

In doubt, contact your local chamber of commerce. Once your business is fully set up, there are NO compulsory directory registrations.

Reminder of existing marketing campaigns designed as compulsory invoices:

  • France Annuaire On-Line d’Entreprises 957€
  • Registre des Societes Nouvellements Crees for 80€
  • Annuaire Telecom 118 for 260€
  • New: Pages-entreprises.info 297,60€
  • Registre des Creations asking for 119,60€
  • New: Société de Référencement sur Internet for 249€ for one quarter

Valerie Lemiere: Start Business in France

About the author: Valérie Aston

I've been helping people who want to start or already have a small business set up in France since 2009. After graduating from a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, I worked as a senior marketing consultant in the UK and France for various International companies. I worked as a conseillère en création d'entreprises (senior business advisor) for BGE here in France and run this independent business on a daily basis.