We independent trainers are often required to submit official personal documents, such as I.D., diplomas, residence permit, by the organisations to whom we subcontract.
Transmission of such documents is not without risk of interception by identity thieves, who can use (or sell on) these documents for fraudulent transactions such as gaining undue access to rights, regularising immigration status, or getting access to your finances.
Now there is an online service, offered by the French government, for anyone who wishes to ‘watermark’ their personal documents before transmitting them to any third party.
You can find it and test it here, at: https://filigrane.beta.gouv.fr/
All you need to do is upload the document in question (.PDF, .PNG, or .JPG), type in the wording of the watermark, then download the watermarked document. It really only takes a matter of seconds to accomplish.
You are free to write whatever you like in the watermark. Suggestions include specifics, like “For the use of Training People only”, or “Transaction with The Online Bank, 26th September 2023”.
Once you’ve downloaded the watermarked document, the site immediately deletes both your original document and the watermarked document from its database.
If for some reason you don’t download the watermarked document, it will be deleted after one day, so there’s no risk of it remaining in other hands.
Something to bear in mind at this time when many trainers are renewing contracts with other training organisations.
Stay safe!
