Have you ever received an email announcing a fine to be paid urgently or a vacation rental that seems too good to be true? Cybercriminals are becoming more inventive every year to trap you, and 2026 is no exception. Discover how you can protect yourself against these scams and what technological solutions can help you on a daily basis.
The 3 must-know facts
- 60% of French people were victims of phishing in 2025, according to Cybermalveillance.gouv.fr.
- Fake tax adjustments and fake rental ads are among the latest scam techniques.
- Surfshark One offers an effective cybersecurity suite, including a VPN and tools against fraudulent emails.
Persistent online threats
Cybercriminals never run out of ideas to try to scam you. According to Cybermalveillance.gouv.fr, a majority of French people faced phishing attempts in 2025. These attacks often use social engineering to exploit fear and stress, promising fake tax adjustments or fake fines to be paid urgently.
Vacation periods are also conducive to the appearance of fake rental ads. Scammers take advantage of the desire to escape by offering enticing deals intended to extract money from you. Classics like fake messages about health cards or undelivered packages also continue to claim victims.
How Surfshark One can help you
In the face of these threats, having a robust cybersecurity suite can prove indispensable. Surfshark One offers a range of features designed to protect you. Its Fraudulent Email Detector, for example, uses artificial intelligence to analyze received emails and identify suspicious links or scam attempts.
Surfshark One also allows you to mask your email address with aliases. These temporary digital identities protect your main email in case of data breaches, making the task much more difficult for hackers.
The benefits of a long-term subscription
Opting for a long-term subscription to Surfshark One offers several financial advantages. With a 27-month subscription, you benefit from an 88% discount, paying only €2.08 per month. Additionally, Surfshark offers a Calm Premium gift card, allowing you to enjoy wellness services for periods up to a lifetime subscription.
This gift card is awarded 31 days after your subscription, provided you do not cancel your subscription during this period. Note that VAT may apply depending on your place of residence.
Common issue: fake health card renewal messages
Among persistent scams, fake health card renewal messages continue to trap many users. These emails, often very well imitated, ask the user to click on a link to update their card, leading to fraudulent sites. To avoid these traps, it is advised to always check the sender’s address and never provide personal information via links received by email. In this context, using tools like those offered by Surfshark to analyze and filter emails can prove particularly useful.
