Seven men appear before the Paris criminal court for having embezzled more than a million euros of public money via the MaPrimeRénov’ system.
Among the seven individuals involved, six are of French nationality and one is Turkish, aged between 27 and 46 years old. Most work as company managers or entrepreneurs. Six of them are being prosecuted for organized gang fraud, each being involved to varying degrees according to the investigation.
However, the lawyer for one of the defendants, Antoine Ory, contests the accusation of association in an organized gang and emphasizes that his client “is not responsible for the conditions under which fraudulent canvassing was carried out“.
And during this time, Anah announced that it had foiled more than 21,000 renovation aid fraud attempts in 2025blocking the payment of 174 million euros of public money.
The fraud mechanism
According to investigations, the defendants allegedly set up a system combining identity theft and false services in order to unduly receive subsidies intended for energy audits of the MaPrimeRénov’ system. Between mid-2022 and early 2023, some 2,080 fraudulent files would have been filedallowing you to obtain assistance of between 300 and 500 euros depending on household income, often supplemented by a “project management assistance” package of 150 euros. These grants were intended to support individuals in choosing work suited to their homeby mobilizing architects, craftsmen or engineers. Note that, until 2022, these assistance could be requested before the work was carried outwithout obligation to execute them, which has changed since 2024.
Canvassers had been recruited to identify individuals and recover their personal data in order to create MaPrimeRénov’ accounts in their place. Fictitious audits were then certified using the stamp of two companies labeled “Recognized Guarantor of the Environment”, which filed a complaint for identity theft.
The extent of the damage and legal implications
The total damage suffered by the National Housing Agency (Anah), which manages the distribution of aid, is estimated at 1.13 million euros. The agency has become a civil party. Given that MaPrimeRénov’ is co-financed by the European Union, the European prosecutor’s office has resumed the investigation initially carried out by the Epinal public prosecutor’s office at the beginning of 2023.
Taking office in 2021 and based in Luxembourg, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office is responsible for investigating offenses affecting the EU’s financial interests, such as VAT fraud, misappropriation of EU funds, corruption and money laundering. This case constitutes the first case heard in France whose investigation was followed by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. France has seven delegated European prosecutors, mobilized on 121 cases whose total damage is estimated at nearly six billion euros. © AFP
Anah blocked 174 million euros in aid in 2025
Reinforced controls to secure renovation aid
During its board of directors meeting, L’Anah presented the results of its control policy, considering that the systems put in place made it possible to strengthen the protection of households benefiting from renovation aidn. In a press release, the agency recalls that “home renovation mobilizes considerable budgetary resources and constitutes a major lever for the ecological transition“, emphasizing that this public policy must, as such, meet exemplary requirements.
Over the past year, checks have been systematized at each stage of the process, from the allocation of aid to its payment. At the same time, on-site checks were significantly intensified and concerned 16% of files, a level higher than the initial objective. These devices made it possible toidentify and block 21,439 fraudulent files before any payment.
Since 2020, the total amount of fraud suffered is estimated at 85 million euros, or around 0.4% of the 19.2 billion euros in aid distributed over the period. The agency indicates that it systematically files a complaint with the public prosecutor’s office so that these facts give rise to prosecution. © Freepik
Strengthened cooperation between administrations and new measures planned
Facing theemergence of increasingly sophisticated fraudulent schemessometimes going beyond the sole scope of intervention of the agency, a taskforceThe interministerial committee was set up in 2025, associating in particular:
– the General Directorate of Public Finances;
– The Tracfin financial intelligence unit;
– And the General Directorate for Consumer Competition and Fraud Prevention.
The cross-checking of tax and financial data made it possible to confirm several cases of fraud, to maintain the blocking of certain payments and to initiate administrative, tax and criminal procedures.
For 2026, the agency intends to continue its efforts to secure the system. A prior appointment in a France Rénov’ will thus become obligatory above all submission of file relating to a large-scale renovation. Supervision of professionals should also be strengthened. The establishment plans in particular to publish the names of the sanctioned actors as well as to territorialize the approval of the “Renov’ Accompaniers”. Finally, companies offering work will now have to mention the France Rénov’ platform in their communicationsa measure intended to promote professionals who respect the rules and to facilitate the identification of fraudulent practices.
