Alert: A significant increase reported in deceitful police scams predominantly targeting French-speaking regions in Switzerland
Fraudsters on the Rise: Money Extortion in French-Speaking Switzerland
These deceitful tactics to pilfer your hard-earned cash are becoming more prevalent, particularly in Suisse Romande.
According to the Vaud cantonal police, who've gathered data from their French-speaking counterparts, approximately 1,000 instances have been reported over the past five months. This is an enormous leap from the 800 cases reported across 2024. As reported by RTS on June 19th, the losses incurred by these scammers between January and May 2025 are estimated to be over 3 million francs – a significant increase compared to the 3.7 million francs lost in 2024 as a whole.
You might be curious as to why these scams are more common in the French-speaking region of Switzerland. Although the police haven't explicitly stated their reasons, some media outlets have suggested that the scammers may be situated in neighboring France, making it easier for them to prey on French-speaking areas.
So, how do these scammers ply their deceptive trade?
Their operations are far from random – they primarily target the elderly. According to the Vaud cantonal police's dedicated crime website, these fraudsters leverage online directories to find names commonly associated with seniors. They then contact their victims under false pretenses, posing as police officers, and use clever means to bypass their victims' vigilance.
In essence, they claim that thefts or robberies are happening in their area and persuade victims to surrender their money and valuables for "safekeeping." They even go as far as showing up at their doorstep. Many elderly individuals, who often fear being victims of crime, unfortunately fall victim to these con artists as a result.
A word of advice from the Geneva cantonal police: "Officers will never, under any circumstances, come to your home to collect your bank cards, PIN codes, jewellery, or cash." Remember to exercise caution and common sense. If you're unsure about the identity of a person claiming to be a police officer, hang up immediately and call 117 to verify their identity. Never call back suspicious numbers, and should you ever encounter a potentially fraudulent visit, do not open the door and call 117 again to confirm the police's presence. Additionally, if you suspect a fraud involving the transfer of money, banking information, or credit cards, block your card(s) with your bank and contact the police at 117.
Scammers don't just operate using this approach – other similar types of scams are also circulating. For instance, fraudsters might pretend to be family members who've supposedly been robbed while traveling abroad and urgently need financial assistance to return home. As a precaution, avoid wiring money to such individuals. Under no circumstances should you comply with these requests, as they're virtually guaranteed to be scams. Keep a keen eye out for other fraudulent schemes as well, like fake rental listings targeted at foreign residents in Switzerland, and be wary of them.
In light of the rising instances of scams, it's crucial to stay vigilant, especially in the French-speaking region of Switzerland where approximately 1,000 cases have been reported over the past five months, according to the Vaud cantonal police. politics and general-news: These scammers frequently target the elderly, using online directories to find names commonly associated with seniors, and posing as authorities to extort money and valuables. crime-and-justice: The Geneva cantonal police advise against giving out sensitive information to unexpected callers, and urge individuals to verify the identity of anyone claiming to be a police officer.
