Shock call scams in Chiasso and Biasca, two arrests

Context

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 Hospital and requested 20,000 Swiss francs from the man to cover the medical expenses of his daughter, who was allegedly hospitalized.

The prompt reporting of the victims' families to the Common Alarm Center (CECAL) and the readiness of the patrols active in the territory allowed the police to intercept the two Polish citizens as they were leaving the area. The suspects were apprehended in San Vittore and the stolen goods were recovered.

⚠️ The 'shock call' scam is a type of scam that is widespread in Ticino and other Swiss cantons. It exploits the vulnerability of elderly people, often alone and isolated. Scammers impersonate doctors or other professionals and use persuasion tactics to convince victims to hand over money.

Swiss penal law provides severe penalties for this type of crime. According to Article 146 of the Swiss Penal Code, scam is punishable by up to 5 years' imprisonment or a fine. In cases of scams targeting elderly or vulnerable people, the penalties can be more severe.

Operational checklist to avoid scams:

• Verify the identity of the caller
• Never hand over money or valuables to strangers
• Always contact the police or competent authorities in case of doubts
• Inform elderly and vulnerable people about the risks of scams

💡 Prevention is key to avoiding scams. It is essential to inform elderly and vulnerable people about the risks of scams and how to avoid them.

📊 Statistics on scams in Ticino: According to the data from the cantonal police of Ticino, 145 cases of scams targeting elderly people were reported in 2022, with a total of 1.2 million Swiss francs stolen. 70% of the victims were over 65 years old.

Comparison of practical scenarios:

• In a similar case in Locarno, an 80-year-old woman handed over 30,000 Swiss francs to a scammer who claimed to be a doctor. The woman was helped by the carabinieri and recovered part of the amount.
• In Bellinzona, a 75-year-old man received a phone call from a scammer who claimed to be a lawyer. The man handed over 10,000 Swiss francs but then reported the incident to the police and recovered the amount.

Operational details

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 sense of urgency and panic in the victim.

💡 To prevent such scams, it is essential to inform especially elderly and vulnerable people about the modus operandi of scammers and protection measures.

📊 Official data show that 'shock call' scams now represent over 30% of all scams reported in Ticino.

Regulatory references

• Federal Law on Criminal Law applicable to Scams (RS 311.0) of March 23, 2000
• Ordinance of the DFJP concerning the execution of the Federal Law on Criminal Law applicable to Scams (RS 311.02) of October 29, 2002

Recommended tools

For an updated estimate, use the net salary calculator and the CHF-EUR exchange comparator.

Key points

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 significant financial loss and considerable emotional damage.
• Scenario B: A victim who reports a suspicious call to CECAL immediately could avoid a scam and contribute to the arrest of those responsible.

Available resources

For more information on security advice and scam prevention, visit our salary calculator and consult the resources available on frontaliereticino.ch. Use our salary calculator to check if your salary is in line with sector averages in Ticino municipalities such as Chiasso, Biasca, Lugano, and Bellinzona.