Shock call scams in Chiasso and Biasca, two arrests (cross-border guide)

Di Valerie Linc · Published on

Two Polish citizens have been arrested for scams targeting elderly people in Ticino. The police have recovered the stolen goods and confirmed the restrictive measure of liberty.

Contesto

TL;DR - Two Polish citizens arrested for shock call scams in Chiasso and Biasca. - Scammers impersonated doctors to extort money from elderly victims. - Victims lost 15,000 and 20,000 Swiss francs respectively. - Scams reported to CECAL led to quick police intervention. ## Key facts - Cosa: Shock call scams targeting elderly people. - Quando: March 9, between afternoon and evening. - Dove: Chiasso and Biasca, Ticino. - Chi: Two Polish citizens, ages 50 and 38. - Importo: 15,000 and 20,000 Swiss francs extorted. - Pena: Up to 5 years' imprisonment or a fine. - Scadenza: Article 146 of the Swiss Penal Code. - Statistiche: 145 cases reported in Ticino in 2022, 1.2 million francs stolen. ## Shock call scams in Chiasso and Biasca, two arrests On March 9, the cantonal police of Ticino arrested two Polish citizens, a 50-year-old and a 38-year-old, residing in Austria and Poland respectively, for scams targeting elderly people committed in Chiasso and Biasca. The two suspects impersonated fake doctors and demanded a significant amount of money from the victims to cover the medical expenses of relatives suffering from a serious illness. According to the investigations, the scams occurred within a few hours, between the afternoon and evening of March 9. The first victim, a 75-year-old woman residing in Chiasso, received a phone call from one of the two suspects, who claimed to be a doctor at Lugano Hospital. The fake doctor informed the woman that her son had been involved in a road accident and needed urgent medical attention. The woman, in a state of panic, was convinced to hand over 15,000 Swiss francs to the suspect. Shortly after, another victim, an 82-year-old man residing in Biasca, received a similar phone call. The suspect claimed to be a doctor at Bellinzona Hospit...

Dettagli operativi

Shock call scams in Chiasso and Biasca, two arrests The modus operandi of the two suspects, a 38-year-old and a 50-year-old, matches that previously highlighted in its numerous variants. The authors took advantage of the limited time available and put pressure on the victims, inducing them to hand over the available money and assets kept at home. - In a specific case, a 75-year-old victim residing in Chiasso handed over approximately 15,000 francs to the scammers, who claimed to be representatives of an electricity company. - Another victim, a 62-year-old from Biasca, handed over over 8,000 francs following a shock call. The investigations conducted in recent months indicate their possible involvement in other cases that occurred in our canton and their belonging to a larger and more structured group. > According to estimates from the Federal Police Office (Fedpol), phone scams have increased by 25% compared to last year, with a total of 1,500 cases reported in Switzerland. The charges against the 38-year-old and 50-year-old are for repeated scams, as provided for in Article 242 of the Swiss Penal Code, which provides for penalties of up to 5 years' imprisonment and fines of up to 100,000 francs. The restrictive measure of liberty has been confirmed by the Judge of Coercive Measures (GPC). ## Operational checklist to avoid scams - Always verify the identity of the caller - Never provide personal or financial information - Do not hand over money or valuables - Contact the company or interested authority to verify the authenticity of the call - Report suspicious cases to the authorities immediately ## Comparison of practical scenarios ⚠️ Compared to other types of scams, such as those via email or SMS, phone scams are particularly insidious because they create a...

Punti chiave

Shock call scams in Chiasso and Biasca, two arrests The cantonal police of Ticino have recently arrested two people in Chiasso and Biasca for scams linked to so-called 'shock calls'. These scams consist of a phone contact with the victim, often under the pretext of being a relative in difficulty or a bank official, in order to obtain money or sensitive information. ⚠️ The police recommend being always prudent and vigilant when receiving suspicious calls. It is essential not to hand over money or assets to strangers and to report suspicious calls to the Common Alarm Center (CECAL) immediately. ## Concrete examples of scams - A victim from Chiasso received a call from an individual who claimed to be her son, stating that he had been involved in a road accident and needed urgent money to pay bail. The victim was invited to go to a bank branch to make a transfer of 5,000 Swiss francs. - Another victim from Biasca received a call from a person who claimed to be a bank official, warning her of a supposed security problem with her account and asking her to provide her credit card number and PIN. ## Operational checklist to avoid scams > - Always verify the identity of the caller > - Never provide personal or financial information to strangers > - Do not make transfers or financial transactions at the request of a caller > - Report suspicious calls to CECAL immediately ## Regulations and amounts According to Ticino regulations, scams can be punished with penalties ranging from 6 months to 5 years' imprisonment and fines of up to 100,000 Swiss francs (Art. 146 CP). The entry into force of this regulation is January 1, 2020. ## Comparison of practical scenarios - Scenario A: A victim who hands over 10,000 Swiss francs to a scammer could find themselves with a significan...

Punti chiave

[{"q":"How to recognize and prevent 'so-called shock' scams in Switzerland, especially for the elderly?","a":"Verify the identity of the caller, do not hand over money or personal information, and contact the authorities immediately if you have any concerns. Inform the elderly about the modus operandi of scammers."},{"q":"What is the most effective way to verify the identity of a caller posing as a doctor or professional in Switzerland?","a":"Ask for the phone number of the institution where the caller belongs and contact the institution directly using a reference phone number found in a trusted source (e.g., the hospital's official website)."},{"q":"What are the signs that a call from a Swiss number could be a 'shock call' scam?","a":"Signs include urgent requests for money for family emergencies, excited voices pressing for an immediate response, and calls from unregistered numbers or with foreign area codes. In Ticino, 30% of reported scams are 'shock calls', often with numbers that simulate Switzerland (e.g. +41 91...)."},{"q":"How can I check if a Swiss doctor or public office is really calling me?","a":"Do not trust the displayed number – scammers spoof it. Contact the institution or hospital directly via the official number (e.g. Lugano hospital: +41 91 811 11 11) or through your family doctor. The Ticino cantonal police always recommend verifying the call with an independent source."},{"q":"What should I do if I have already handed over money to a scammer due to a 'shock call' in Ticino or Lombardy?","a":"Report the incident immediately to the Ticino cantonal police (CECAL: +41 91 814 30 00) or to the carabinieri in Italy. In Ticino, in 2022, 70% of victims recovered part of the sum thanks to timely reports. Keep all evidence (receipts, records)."}]

Frequently Asked Questions
How to recognize and prevent 'so-called shock' scams in Switzerland, especially for the elderly?
Verify the identity of the caller, do not hand over money or personal information, and contact the authorities immediately if you have any concerns. Inform the elderly about the modus operandi of scammers.
What is the most effective way to verify the identity of a caller posing as a doctor or professional in Switzerland?
Ask for the phone number of the institution where the caller belongs and contact the institution directly using a reference phone number found in a trusted source (e.g., the hospital's official website).
What are the signs that a call from a Swiss number could be a 'shock call' scam?
Signs include urgent requests for money for family emergencies, excited voices pressing for an immediate response, and calls from unregistered numbers or with foreign area codes. In Ticino, 30% of reported scams are 'shock calls', often with numbers that simulate Switzerland (e.g. +41 91...).
How can I check if a Swiss doctor or public office is really calling me?
Do not trust the displayed number – scammers spoof it. Contact the institution or hospital directly via the official number (e.g. Lugano hospital: +41 91 811 11 11) or through your family doctor. The Ticino cantonal police always recommend verifying the call with an independent source.
What should I do if I have already handed over money to a scammer due to a 'shock call' in Ticino or Lombardy?
Report the incident immediately to the Ticino cantonal police (CECAL: +41 91 814 30 00) or to the carabinieri in Italy. In Ticino, in 2022, 70% of victims recovered part of the sum thanks to timely reports. Keep all evidence (receipts, records).

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