Keystone
Under the title “Romance Scam. True love doesn’t cost anything”, Swiss Crime Prevention and the cantonal and municipal police forces are launching a campaign against romance scams on the Internet at the beginning of March. The most important rule is not to transfer money.
This is also the case if someone is supposedly in an emergency situation, they told the media in Bern on Thursday. Every year, around 700 reports are filed throughout Switzerland in connection with romance fraud, but the number of unreported cases is around 20 times higher.
Deep emotional wounds and a great sense of shame are the reason why many romance scam crimes are not reported, said Fabian Ilg, Managing Director of Swiss Crime Prevention (SCP). Many of those affected also held on to their hopes of finding true love and did not want to admit the scam for a long time.
Loneliness is a major issue for those affected, said Patrick Marty from the Aargau cantonal police. In this canton alone, there were around 60 reports last year with an offense amount of around three million francs. Victim responsibility is also up for discussion. This includes a legal dimension, for example when people behave with gross negligence by transferring money.
Victims mostly older women
Victims are mostly single, middle-aged women who are contacted by the fraudsters by chance via an online contact request, the report continued. The perpetrators first create an emotional dependency and then take advantage of the random victim’s willingness to help.
The relationship of trust is built up over weeks or months, said Serdar Günal Rütsche, head of the cybercrime department of the Zurich cantonal police. This is followed by the supposed tragic emergency, a moment of shock, so to speak, for the victim in love, who believes that the loved one is ill, involved in an accident, has to go to prison or something similar. This is also documented with pictures.
In this case, it is important to break off contact immediately and also inform friends and family, as they will also be contacted by the perpetrators. Warning signals should be taken seriously, for example that a face-to-face meeting will not take place.
Never transfer money
However, if money has been transferred, for example via so-called “money mules” in Switzerland, you should report it to the police as quickly as possible, otherwise the money will quickly be lost. In such a case, you also need to “clean up your digital identity properly” and create new email addresses and social media profiles.
Not transferring money can be a challenge, the report continued. However, this is difficult, as the fraudsters specifically manipulate emotions such as love, compassion and loyalty. Those who do not pay money are left alone more quickly. The relationship thus breaks off before it takes an important place in the lives of those affected and causes a great deal of suffering.
Perpetrators mostly men in Africa and Asia
Over 90 percent of perpetrators are men, many of whom are found in cybercafés in West Africa, mostly Nigeria, but also in Asia, for example in Myanmar and border regions of Thailand.
According to the Institute for Combating Economic Crime in Neuchâtel, the fraudsters work internationally, with clear guidelines and sometimes even fixed working hours. With the help of artificial intelligence, they also manage to overcome language barriers and appear credible.
Anyone could fall for such a scam, the report continued. With videos, social media posts and a website, the SKP and the police corps therefore want to explain the perpetrators’ methods and also show the effects on those affected. The campaign will run until May.
www.romance-scam.ch
