Campaign against new scam

The perpetrators' approach to this scam is always the same: young people between 18 and 25 are persuaded by the scammers to sign mobile phone contracts. They then sell the cell phones and tablets, which they receive at a greatly reduced price or free of charge, to the scammers, who pretend to sign over the associated contracts to them. However, the perpetrators do not keep this promise and the defrauded parties are left with the contractual obligations.

The perpetrators resell the devices at the usual commercial price and thus make their profit. Depending on the number and duration of the contracts concluded, the damage incurred can amount to up to 50,000 francs. Corresponding reports have already been received by various police corps.

In order to prevent such cases in the future, the Zurich City Police (Stapo) is launching a Prevention campaign. It was developed in close cooperation with the Open Youth Work Zurich (OJA Zurich Job Shop / Info Shop) and the Debt Prevention Zurich, it says. The campaign aims to raise awareness among the potential target group of fraudsters. Under the hashtag #fakefameZH, potential victims are to be reached via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

First arrests

First investigation successes lead to first arrests The above-mentioned crime pattern has already been copied by various perpetrators, as the Zurich police department writes. Thanks to an elaborate procedure and good cooperation between different police corps, a first success has already been achieved. In the course of an investigation by the Winterthur-Unterland public prosecutor's office, the Zurich cantonal police arrested three suspects aged 19, 20 and 26. The Stapo assumes an offense sum of several 10,000 francs.

More information: on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at #fakefameZH