The scam always works more or less the same way. They ring you claiming to be from the police, saying they’ve detected suspicious activity on your bank account and that they need to come to your home to take a statement. And whilst they’re talking to you, they ask you questions: how much money you have in the bank, whether you keep cash at home, and what valuables you own. That’s when most people let their guard down.
A pensioner from the north of the canton of Vaud did just that in May. When the fraudsters began questioning him about his bank accounts and assets, he realised what was going on. He said nothing. He hung up, called the real police and arranged for the fraudsters to come to his home. By the time they arrived and left empty-handed, the police were already on their trail. They were arrested following a chase.
What emerged during the investigation was that two days earlier, in Lausanne, their scheme had worked. A 90-year-old woman had handed over 10,000 francs to them. Same script, different outcome. The main defendant, who is resident in Geneva, has already been sentenced: a suspended fine, plus a further fine and costs. The accomplice was a minor and will be tried separately.
The context says it all: June 2026 was the month with the highest number of reported cases since records began. 640 reports in a single month. Since 2022, more than 5,000 complaints have been filed in Switzerland regarding this scam, with losses exceeding 18 million francs. The police have been warning the public for months. In northern Vaud, at least one person was well aware of the danger.