Firewood scams: how to avoid fraudulent online deals this winter

As winter draws nearer, cut-price firewood deals are multiplying online. Some conceal well-established fraudulent methods.

Wood heating remains highly popular with households, particularly as temperatures fall and energy bills become a concern. More than seven million homes rely on it. This strong demand also creates favourable conditions for scammers, who exploit urgency, tempting prices and promises of very fast delivery.

Tempting deals that vanish once payment is made

The same pattern emerges every year. An internet user needs a few stacked cubic metres or several cubic metres of logs. They find an advert with polished photographs, a reassuring logo and a price far below usual market rates. Delivery may even be promised within 48 hours, anywhere in France and at no extra cost.

After the order has been paid for, the seller can no longer be contacted. No lorry arrives at the buyer's home, and the website may disappear a few days later. Some fraudsters copy the visual identity of genuine businesses: they reuse photographs, a trading name, address or contact details belonging to a known professional in order to make their fake shop look credible.

“A price that is markedly lower than other local offers should be treated as a warning sign, not as a bargain to seize in haste.”

Victims do not necessarily lose only the value of their order. By entering their bank details on a dubious platform, they may also expose their personal data to fraudulent use.

Nearly one in two inspected businesses warned or ordered to comply

The issue is not limited to websites created solely to steal money. Existing sellers may also engage in misleading commercial practices. In an investigation conducted by the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention, 185 businesses in the sector were inspected. Nearly half received either a warning or a compliance order.

The irregularities concerned price displays, missing product information, cancellation rights and the actual quality of the delivered wood. Buyers may receive logs that are shorter than expected, a different species from the one ordered, or fuel that is too damp to use straight away.

Damp firewood: poor value even when it is delivered

Wood that has not dried sufficiently does not burn properly. It produces more smoke, causes deposits in the flue and releases less heat. Users therefore need more logs to achieve the same level of comfort. This is more than an inconvenience: a poorly maintained appliance supplied with damp wood can also increase risks associated with the chimney flue.

The invoice must therefore clearly state the nature of the product delivered. Since 2022, sellers have in particular been required to specify the species, log length, moisture content, and whether it is “ready to use” or “to be dried before use”. The recommended drying period must also be shown.

Checks to make before paying anything

The first step is to confirm that the business genuinely exists. A reputable seller should be able to provide a registration number, an identifiable address and a working means of contact. Calling before placing an order is sensible, especially where a substantial sum is requested.

• Compare the quoted price with those offered by several suppliers near you.
• Search for the company in public business registers.
• Check the legal notices, postal address and terms and conditions of sale.
• Be wary of a vague email address or a telephone number that is never answered.
• Treat reviews cautiously, looking out for very similar comments posted over a short period.
• Avoid payments demanded by instant bank transfer or through methods that are difficult to dispute.

A poorly translated website, numerous errors, an inconsistent address or photographs reused on other pages should also raise suspicions. Browser warnings must never be disregarded. Verification tools can help identify a domain that was created recently or has already been reported by consumers.

“Before making any payment, you must be able to identify a real contact, reach their business and obtain the precise specifications of the firewood ordered.”

Watch out for the measurement-unit trap

The sale of firewood can sometimes be confusing, especially in relation to the stère. This former unit is still widely used in conversation, although sales must now be stated in cubic metres. The apparent volume varies according to the length of the logs.

One stère equals one cubic metre when logs are one metre long. When they are cut into 50-centimetre or 33-centimetre pieces, they stack more compactly. The space they occupy is therefore no longer the same. An honest seller must clearly explain the delivered volume, the length of the pieces and the corresponding price.

Item to check	What must be shown
Type of wood	The species, or mix of species, being sold
Format	The exact length of the logs
Quality	The moisture level and drying condition
Quantity	The advertised volume in cubic metres

Choose known supply routes and traceability

Local timber merchants, forestry operators, farmers, specialist shops and major retailers often offer more safeguards. Buying directly also makes it possible to inspect the wood before delivery, ask questions about drying and check the documents provided.

Certain indicators can provide reassurance, including France bois bûche, PEFC or FSC certification for origin. For pellets, ENplus, DINplus or NF Bois de Chauffage references provide information about product consistency. A label does not remove the need to verify the seller, but its complete absence is worth questioning when competing adverts prominently mention such credentials.

What to do after a fraudulent order

Where delivery does not arrive and the seller no longer responds, every piece of evidence should be kept: the order confirmation, invoice, correspondence, bank statement, screenshots of the website and the advert viewed. These documents make it easier to take action with the bank, enforcement services and investigators.

A report can be made through the official SignalConso platform. For online purchases where there has been neither delivery nor a response from the trader, the THESEE system can also be used to report digital fraud. Depending on the circumstances, it is also possible to file a complaint with the gendarmerie, a police station or the public prosecutor.

Finally, firewood bought from a private individual at a rock-bottom price should prompt caution. It may have come from theft or illegal felling. Without an invoice or identifiable origin, the buyer may face difficulties in the event of an inspection. A cheap log can quickly cost far more than a delivery made by an identifiable supplier.