Summer holidays are synonymous with escape… but also with a surge in scams. Fake booking websites, fictitious agencies on social media, bogus travel planners, and requests for payment by bank transfer: fraudsters are constantly coming up with new ways to trap travelers. Every year, families lose hundreds, even thousands of euros after booking a trip that ultimately never happens.
The good news is that there are a few simple steps you can take to avoid most of these scams. Before paying a deposit or the full amount for your trip, I recommend taking a few minutes to complete these ten checks. They can make all the difference.
Summary
1. Check that the agency is properly registered with Atout France
This is undoubtedly the most important control. In France, professionals who develop or sell package holidays must, except in cases provided for by the Tourism Code, be registered with the register of travel and holiday operators. This registration is mandatory under the Tourism Code.
If a tour package seller does not appear in the official register, you should ask them for an explanation before paying.
To facilitate this verification, I have created an interactive map that allows you to view registered operators throughout France. Unlike a simple list, it allows you to search for an agency by its name, SIRET number, registration number, city, or postal code, and also to directly display professionals located near you thanks to geolocation.
2. Check the registration number
The Atout France registration number usually begins with the letters IM. It must be clearly displayed on the agency's website, quotes, contracts, or general terms and conditions of sale.
Its absence is already a first warning sign. When it is indicated, take a few seconds to verify that it corresponds to the official information.
3. Check the SIRET number
A reputable travel agency will also display its SIRET number. This number identifies the establishment and allows you to view its legal information. However, you should verify that the seller is indeed using the contact details of this establishment.
On the InfosTourisme map, the SIRET number appears directly in the detailed information sheet for each operator, alongside its legal form and address.
4. Check who is financially guaranteeing your trip
Many travelers are unaware that registered agencies must have a financial guarantee. This guarantee covers, under the conditions stipulated by regulations, the reimbursement of funds received by the defaulting operator and, when transport is planned, the repatriation of travelers.
When you view a listing on the map, you immediately find the name of the financial guarantor, whether it is APST, Groupama, Atradius or another approved organization.
👉 Consult the free interactive map of registered operators:
https://registre-operateurs.infostourisme.com
5. Check the professional liability insurance
Another legal obligation: each registered operator must have professional liability insurance.
This insurance protects travelers in various situations covered by the contract. Again, this information is directly visible in the detailed description of each operator.
What does a registered operator's profile look like?
By clicking on an agency or tourist office on the map, you will access a complete profile that includes the main official information:
- The company name;
- Its legal form;
- Its SIRET number;
- Its Atout France registration number;
- The date of its registration;
- Its category of activity;
- The address of its registered office;
- The name of the financial guarantor;
- The name of his professional liability insurer.
A scammer can copy a logo, create a fake website, or publish fake reviews. However, it will be much more difficult for them to present a valid registration number accompanied by a financial guarantee and insurance that match the official information.
6. Beware of prices that seem too good to be true
An exceptional discount may seem irresistible. However, when a trip is offered at a price significantly lower than the market rate, it's best to be extra vigilant. Scammers often use rock-bottom prices to pressure travelers into paying quickly without taking the time to verify the information.
7. Refuse payments by bank transfer to an individual
A tourism professional typically offers several secure payment methods: credit card, installment payments, or even holiday vouchers, depending on the circumstances. If you are asked to make a transfer to a personal account, send money via a transfer platform, or pay in cryptocurrency, this should raise a red flag.
Scammers often exploit the urgency of the situation: "only one spot left," "offer expires in one hour," or "payment must be made immediately." A reputable professional gives you time to verify the information before booking.
8. Analyze the reviews… but keep your critical thinking
Online reviews are useful, but they should never be your sole deciding factor. These days, it's relatively easy to buy fake reviews or publish them in large quantities.
Prioritize detailed reviews published over a longer period, and check if the experiences described seem consistent. Dozens of reviews published within a few days with very similar content should raise a red flag.
9. Check the legal notices and contact details
Before booking, please take a few minutes to review the website's legal notices. In particular, you should be able to identify:
- the company name;
- the SIRET number;
- the address of the head office;
- contact details;
- the Atout France registration number when required.
An agency that provides no physical address, only a contact form or instant messaging, deserves special attention.
10. Use geolocation to find an agency near you
This is probably the feature I find most practical when planning a trip.
Thanks to the geolocation button available on the InfosTourisme map, you can automatically display registered operators near your location. No need to know the name of an agency: the map directly shows you the professionals located nearby.
You can also explore a destination before your departure, identify agencies located in a city or find tourist offices, transport companies, accommodation managers or associations registered in a specific sector.
Why this map goes beyond a simple search
The official Atout France register is a valuable resource, but it's not always easy for the general public to use. That's why I wanted to offer a more visual and intuitive approach.
To date, the InfosTourisme interactive map lists 6,685 registered travel operators based on official data from Atout France updated on July 20, 2026.
In just a few seconds you can:
- search for an operator by name;
- find a company using its SIRET number;
- check an Atout France registration number;
- search by city or postal code;
- display professionals near you using geolocation;
- filter results by category;
- consult the financial guarantor and the professional liability insurer;
- access the full profile of each operator.
The main warning signs
| Signal | Why should we be wary? |
|---|---|
| Abnormally low price | A classic technique used to encourage quick bookings. |
| Payment by bank transfer only | Funds are more difficult to recover in the event of fraud. |
| No IM number | Registration is mandatory to sell tourist packages. |
| No SIRET number | It's impossible to easily verify the company. |
| No physical address | The professional can be difficult to identify. |
| Reviews published en masse recently | They may have been created artificially. |
| Pressure to pay immediately | A technique frequently used by fraudsters. |
A concrete example
You find a holiday deal on Facebook with a 50% discount. Before you get out your credit card, simply search for the company name on the InfosTourisme map. If it appears, you can view its listing, check its registration number, SIRET number, financial guarantor, and insurance. If it's not listed even though it sells holiday packages, it's best to cancel your booking and ask for an explanation.
Key takeaways
- Never book a trip without checking that the seller is properly registered when legally required to be so.
- Always check the IM number and the SIRET number.
- Identify the financial guarantor and the liability insurer.
- Be wary of payments made by bank transfer to an individual.
- Take a few seconds to review the official information before making a deposit.
A few seconds of checking can save weeks of hassle
Scammers regularly change their names, websites, or social media accounts. However, they cannot easily invent a valid registration number accompanied by a financial guarantor and insurance that matches official information.
Before booking your next holiday, take a few moments to carry out these checks. They're free, quick, and could save you thousands of euros.
👉 Consult the free interactive map of registered operators:
https://registre-operateurs.infostourisme.com
Updates
- Article published on July 20, 2026.
- Registry data updated as of July 20, 2026.
- 6,685 travel operators listed.
Sources
https://registre-operateurs.infostourisme.com
https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr
https://www.stop-arnaque-voyage.fr
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