Fraud: Company, Switzerland 2024
A supposedly international company asked Swiss company A for a quote for ten wood chippers worth 2 million francs; the buyer was to be another Swiss company, B. Company A had to sign a confidentiality agreement prohibiting direct contact with B and received back a signed offer with a stamp and a copy of an ID.
- Incident · 08.2024 · Switzerland
- Evidence: confirmed by an authority
- Fraud
- Deception (social engineering)
As of
What happened
The fraudsters then demanded that the 10% discount be paid out in advance to a crypto account; the NCSC does not say whether money was paid.
- Affected
- Company (anonymous)
- Industry
- other industry
- Loss
- no reliable figure
- Business interruption
- unknown
- Ransom demanded / paid
- unknown / unknown
- Data affected
- unknown
- Bankruptcy
- no
- Entry point
- Request for a quote from a supposedly international company
What would cyber insurance have paid?
That depends on the terms. Whether those affected were insured: unknown.
-
CEO fraud, diverted payment, fake invoice
Mostly add-on 5 of 9 business 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
Discounts or refunds before payment has been received are a classic fraud pattern, whether by cheque or crypto.
Sources
- Wochenrückblick Woche 35: Checkbetrug - ohne Check, aber mit Krypto (opens in a new window) Bundesamt für Cybersicherheit BACS (bis 2023: NCSC) · 03.09.2024
«Diese verlangt eine Offerte für 10 Holzschredder im Gesamtwert von 2 Millionen Schweizer Franken.»