French-speaking Switzerland
936 fake police officer cases in the canton of Vaud in 2025
The caller claims to act on behalf of the police, invokes a danger or an investigation and pushes the victim to put their money out of harm's way by handing it to an intermediary or transferring it. In the canton of Vaud, these cases rose from 369 to 936 in one year, an increase of 153.7%, whereas fewer than 40 cases had been recorded in 2023. In 2025, 265 scams succeeded and 671 went no further than an attempt. Losses amounted to CHF 1,428,850, compared with CHF 1,104,421 in 2024.
According to the canton of Vaud, this type of scam mainly targets older people.
In practiceThe police do not ask you to move your money. If a caller invites you to do so, hang up and call your police station back on a number you have looked up yourself.
According to Canton of Vaud, 2025 crime report, 23 March 2026.