Deception (social engineering): Private individual, Switzerland 2023
In one week in March 2023, the St. Gallen cantonal police received around 40 shock calls: fake police officers claimed that a relative had caused a serious accident and needed bail.
- Incident · 03.2023 · Canton of St. Gallen (Goldach, St. Gallen, Thal), Switzerland
- Evidence: confirmed by an authority
- Deception (social engineering)
- Fraud
As of
What happened
They succeeded in three cases; an 89-year-old woman handed over cash and gold worth more than 28'000 francs, and a 52-year-old woman 40'000 francs in cash. A 58-year-old woman transferred more than 21'000 francs to several accounts.
- Affected
- Private individual (anonymous)
- Industry
- Private individual
- Loss
- more than 28'000, 40'000 and more than 21'000 francs (title of the report: 100'000 francs)
- Business interruption
- unknown
- Ransom demanded / paid
- unknown / unknown
- Data affected
- unknown
- Bankruptcy
- no
- Entry point
- Call from fake police officers (shock call)
What would cyber insurance have paid?
That depends on the terms. Whether those affected were insured: unknown.
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Hotline and advice before anything happens
Mostly no information 14 of 29 private products cover it fully, as an add-on or with limits.
Overview based on public policy terms, as of 06.11.2026. Only your policy and its general terms and conditions (GTC) are binding. No confirmation of cover.
What we can learn
The police never ask for money or valuables; if you receive such a call, hang up and call your relatives on the number you know.
Sources
- Schockanrufe in St. Gallen: Betrüger erbeuten 100'000 Franken (opens in a new window) Nau.ch (gestützt auf Kantonspolizei St. Gallen) · 25.03.2023