Fraud in Switzerland: fake police officers, job scams and disreputable online shops
Beobachter.ch warns of several active fraud schemes in Switzerland – ranging from fake donation appeals to fraudulent job offers.
Wave of fraud schemes hits Swiss consumers
Beobachter.ch documents a series of active fraud schemes currently circulating in Switzerland – from false donation appeals following the fire in Crans-Montana to fraudulent job advertisements and a controversial online shop.
Fake donation appeals after Crans-Montana fire
Following the devastating fire in Crans-Montana, criminals exploited the public's willingness to help. Fraudulent campaigns were discovered on crowdfunding platforms such as GoFundMe, in which perpetrators used stolen photos of deceased victims. Vaud cantonal police warned explicitly of these schemes on Instagram. Anyone wishing to donate should use exclusively verified, official channels – for example directly with Zurich Children's Hospital or with the organisation Oscare.
Money-mule recruitment via job advertisements
Zurich cantonal police warned of attractive job offers on the internet, such as product testers or remote workers. According to authorities, this conceals a recruitment scheme for so-called money mules: the recruited persons are meant to transfer money via their own accounts. Instead of the promised salary, they risk criminal charges for money laundering. Police recommend never disclosing bank and access details and remaining sceptical of suspiciously high commissions for simple tasks.
Federal office warns of fake job offers for jobseekers
The Federal Office of Cybersecurity (Bacs) has issued a press release drawing attention to another fraud scheme that specifically targets jobseekers. Fraudsters recruit interested parties for supposedly simple tasks such as writing reviews, testing apps or recommending fashion items. For new tasks and alleged salary payments, those affected must pay fees upfront – tasks and payment never materialise afterwards.
A supplementary method: criminals post remote work job offers on fake websites under the names of genuine Swiss companies. Applicants disclose their CVs or make payments during the application process. Particularly insidious is that such advertisements sometimes appear on official portals – both online and in print. Anyone who has already transferred money should file a complaint with police immediately.
Consumer protection lists Lamiso.ch as problematic provider
Consumer protection lists the online shop Lamiso.ch on its register of disreputable providers. According to the organisation, the shop violates the impressum requirement and does not provide a valid Swiss address – which may constitute a violation of the law against unfair competition. Lamiso mainly sells cleaning products, including so-called "wonder cloths" with allegedly special absorbency.
Negative reviews on Trustpilot show a consistent pattern: customers reported that they expected a Swiss product based on the website's appearance but actually received inferior goods from the Far East – partly identical to products on cheap platforms such as Temu. Investigations by Beobachter also revealed that the shop is currently aggressively advertising for new customers with numerous advertisements on Facebook and Instagram. The operators did not comment to Beobachter.
BLV warns against unauthorised pesticides
The Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (BLV) warns against pesticides containing active substances not approved in Switzerland that could endanger health and the environment. Some of these products are advertised online and are banned in this country. The BLV advises purchasing plant protection products exclusively from specialist retailers or Swiss online shops, as products from foreign traders may not meet legal requirements.
Source: Google News CH — Crime (de)