French-speaking Switzerland
Young people recruited online to receive goods bought with stolen cards
In a press release of 22 September 2026, Fribourg cantonal police say that bank details stolen in cyberattacks were used to order electronic equipment online. The investigation has identified 124 fraudulent orders, 187 compromised credit cards and estimated losses of more than 100,000 francs.
Teenagers and young adults recruited on social media agreed to receive the parcels, collect the goods, resell them or transfer money. Of the 77 people identified as suspects, nearly half are minors and 68 have already been reported to the competent authorities. The investigation, which led to 24 arrests and searches, is continuing.
In practiceReceiving parcels or passing on money for a stranger in exchange for payment can lead to a criminal report, minors included. The police ask parents to take notice when a teenager suddenly has money or expensive goods without a credible explanation, and advise cardholders to switch on two-factor authentication and check their statements regularly.
According to Fribourg cantonal police, press release, 22 September 2026 (in French).