According to RTS, this new scam method allows criminals to send mass SMS messages directly to nearby mobile phones, without going through operators or contact lists. That is, they don't need your number. It is enough for them to be physically close, for example at a station, an airport or even in a shopping center.
The trick is quite basic, but it works: you receive an SMS that looks official - bank, post office, customs, even authorities - with a link. And that's where the problem begins. Since the message does not go through traditional networks, it avoids many security filters. Result: more credibility, more clicks... and more victims.
This changes one important thing: until now you could think "if I don't give my number, I'm fine." Not anymore. Here the attack is by proximity, as if someone launched an invisible network to all the mobile phones around. And in areas like Geneva, with so much traffic, the terrain is perfect.
Practical advice, without dramatization but without naivety: 1. Don't click on SMS links, even if they look official 2. Always verify through official channels (bank app, direct website) 3. Be especially wary of urgent or pressure messages
In Switzerland everything works well... until it doesn't. And when it comes to fraud, they are always one step ahead.