--- title: "Romance scams: how to spot them and what to do in Switzerland" description: "Warning signs, good habits and the steps to take in Switzerland if you are the victim of a romance scam, according to the police and Swiss Crime Prevention." url: https://velvet-dating.ch/en/guide/arnaques-sentimentales lang: en updated: 2026-11-12 --- ![A woman quietly reading a message on her phone](https://cms.velvet-dating.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/guide-arnaques-sentimentales-v2.jpg) Guide # Avoiding _romance scams_: warning signs and what to do in Switzerland By the Velvet team Updated 12 November 2026 8-minute read Romance scams affect people of all ages and backgrounds. Here is how to recognise them, protect yourself and respond if you are a victim in Switzerland, based on advice from the police and Swiss Crime Prevention. ## How a romance scam works A romance scam is a fraud that exploits the wish to meet someone. According to Swiss Crime Prevention (SCP), it usually starts with a contact request online, on a social network or a dating site. For weeks, sometimes several months, the scammer builds a relationship of trust. Then comes the request for money. The SCP points out that these scammers usually operate professionally and from abroad. Some handle several victims at once. Artificial intelligence now helps them write convincingly in your language, and the Federal Office for Cybersecurity (FOCS) has observed AI-generated images being used to back up their stories, for example a photo of the person in a hospital bed. ## The typical scenario The SCP brochure "Grand amour ou grosse arnaque ?" (True love or big scam?) describes a pattern that repeats itself: - **An attractive profile**, often with photos stolen from elsewhere on the internet, and a flattering situation, such as a senior executive abroad or a soldier on a mission. - **A very quick declaration.** The person says they have fallen in love surprisingly fast and showers you with tender words. - **A move off the platform**, to WhatsApp or another messaging app, to talk more often and more intimately. - **A meeting that keeps being postponed** by something unexpected: illness, an accident, a mugging at the airport. - **A request for money**, via a transfer service or to an account abroad, then another, then another. - **Pressure** when you hesitate ("If you really loved me…"), sometimes going as far as blackmail with intimate photos: sextortion. ## The warning signs A single one of these signs proves nothing. Several together should make you step back: - the person talks about true love before they have even met you; - they avoid video calls or always find a reason not to turn their camera on; - they live far away, have a very enviable life and no connection with anyone you know; - their photos appear elsewhere on the internet under another name; - they ask you for money, gift cards, a phone, or to receive a parcel for them; - they ask you to receive money into your account to transfer it to someone else. This last point is serious: the SCP points out that making your bank account available to others can make you liable to prosecution yourself for money laundering. ## Good habits to protect yourself - **No money for someone you met online.** This is the rule hammered home by the campaign "L'amour, le vrai, ne coûte rien" (Real love costs nothing), run by the SCP with the cantonal and municipal police forces: "No money for people you have met on the internet". The FOCS puts it this way: never send money or goods to people you have never met. - **Insist on meeting in person**, as Fribourg Cantonal Police advise. A video call is a useful first step. - **Check the photos** with a reverse image search. If the same photo is circulating under another name, it is almost certainly a scam. - **Be discreet** about your address, your employer and your financial situation. - **Never send an intimate photo or video** that you would not want to see shared. - **Talk to someone close to you.** An outside view often sees what feelings hide. Bear in mind that anything can be faked on the internet: complete profiles, official documents, passport copies, supporting documents. On Velvet, nobody can message you without your consent: a conversation only opens when the interest is mutual.[Pre-register](https://velvet-dating.ch/en/preinscription) ## Think you are a victim? What to do in Switzerland You have no reason to feel ashamed: these scammers are professional manipulators. Here are the steps recommended by the SCP, the FOCS and Fribourg Cantonal Police. 1. **Stop all payments** and stop sending goods immediately, even if you are promised it will be the last time. 2. **Keep all your exchanges**: messages, email addresses, phone numbers, profile name, receipts and bank details of the transfers. 3. **File a complaint with your cantonal or municipal police.** As the Fribourg police point out, the police are not there to judge you, but to help you. The Suisse ePolice website helps you find the nearest police station. Your complaint may also stop others from falling into the same trap. 4. **Cut off contact for good** and block the person on all your channels, even if they apologise or admit to part of what happened. 5. **Report the profile** to the site or app where you met. 6. **Talk to someone you trust**, and seek psychological support if the situation weighs on you. If you are in financial difficulty, your canton's debt advice service can help you. You can also report the case to the FOCS using its online form. This report helps it monitor the phenomenon, but it does not replace a complaint: the FOCS cannot register a criminal complaint. In an emergency or if you are threatened, call the police on 117. ## Beware of the second scam After a first scam, victims are often contacted by a so-called lawyer, a foreign "authority" or even "Interpol", claiming to have found the money and demanding fees to return it. The SCP is clear: do not engage. The FOCS also reports scammers who announce the death of the person, complete with a photo of a grave, then ask for "refund" fees. It is the same scam, in another form. ## Helping someone close to you who is a victim It is hard to see a relationship you care about for what it is. The SCP advises showing the person the information from the police or Swiss Crime Prevention, then offering to go with them to the police station to file a complaint. If they refuse and start getting into debt to meet the demands, you can contact your canton's adult protection authority. The brochure "Grand amour ou grosse arnaque ?" can be ordered free of charge from your municipal or cantonal police, and it is available online at [skppsc.ch](https://www.skppsc.ch/fr/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/07/arnaques_sentiments.pdf). **The Velvet team**This guide summarises the public advice of Swiss Crime Prevention, the FOCS and the cantonal police, consulted on 12 November 2026. It does not replace the advice of the police. Frequently asked questions ## Your questions What is a romance scam? It is a fraud in which someone poses as a romantic partner online in order to obtain money. According to Swiss Crime Prevention, the scammer first builds a relationship of trust, sometimes over several months, then invents difficulties to demand payments. The perpetrators often operate from abroad and in an organised way. Where can I report a romance scam in Switzerland? To your cantonal or municipal police, at any police station. The Suisse ePolice website helps you find the nearest station. Bring everything you have: messages, profile name, numbers, emails, proof of payment. You can also report the case online to the Federal Office for Cybersecurity, but this report does not replace a complaint. Can I get the money I sent back? Nothing guarantees it. Stop the payments immediately, keep the proof of payment and file a complaint. According to Swiss Crime Prevention, reporting the scam makes it possible to bring criminal proceedings. Be wary of anyone who promises to recover your money for a fee: the SCP advises against engaging, as it is a second scam. How can I check that a profile is real? Suggest a video call, then a meeting in a public place. Run a reverse image search on their photos: if they appear under another name, that is a strong warning sign. And remember the rule from the police and the SCP: no money for someone you met on the internet, whatever the story. I sent intimate photos and I am being blackmailed: what should I do? Do not pay and stop all contact, without deleting the messages: they are evidence. File a complaint with your cantonal police. Talk to someone you trust. If you are under immediate threat, call the police on 117. ## More guides ### [Romantic weekends in Switzerland](https://velvet-dating.ch/en/guide/week-end-en-amoureux-suisse) Six ideas for getaways for two, from Lake Geneva to the Alps. ### [How to get a first date right](https://velvet-dating.ch/en/guide/premier-rendez-vous) Simple tips for feeling at ease and staying safe. ### [Romantic restaurants in Lausanne](https://velvet-dating.ch/en/guide/restaurants-romantiques-lausanne) Our recommendations for dinner for two, from the lake to the old town. ## Your selection is waiting Pre-register: 15 days on us when we open, starting the first time you log in. No bank card needed. [Save my spot](https://velvet-dating.ch/en/preinscription)