One phenomenon which hardly registered in reports to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) last year at all makes up some 40% of all scam reports this year: faked calls from the authorities.
Faked calls from the authorities aim to exploit people’s trust by scammers pretending to be government employees, for instance working for the tax office or police.
Users frequently use fake telephone numbers to win people’s trust and persuade them to disclose personal information. Often, a computer-generated voice calls a large number of random telephone numbers in the process. If a person answers any of these calls, a recorded message is played containing information and instructions for the victim.
Typical scenarios include threats of legal consequences or demands for immediate cash payments. Frequently, there are also attempts to obtain sensitive data such as bank details. Look out for warning signs such as urgency, unusual payment methods and uncertainties with identification of the person calling.
If you receive a suspect call, put the phone down immediately and notify the police of this incident.
Further information on the cyber security situation can be found in the semi-annual 2024/I cyber security report, with regard to the situation in Switzerland and abroad.
