Advance-Fee Scams in Switzerland
Classic advance-fee fraud targeting Swiss residents through email and WhatsApp, promising large CHF inheritances or business windfalls in exchange for upfront fees.
Part of: Advance Fee Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Advance-fee scams targeting Switzerland often invoke the country's reputation for private banking and financial privacy. Victims receive emails or letters claiming they are beneficiaries of an unclaimed Swiss bank account, inheritance, or business contract, and must pay administrative fees to release the funds.
While the format has been in circulation for decades, localised Swiss variants remain effective. The NCSC and SKP track advance-fee complaints, and the typical victim ends up paying multiple CHF fee rounds before accepting the loss.
How this scam works on Switzerland
An email arrives claiming the recipient's name matches a dormant Swiss bank account holding millions of CHF. A 'lawyer' or 'bank compliance officer' requests upfront payment of CHF fees for account activation, notarisation, or 'Swiss government approval'.
Each payment triggers a new invented obstacle requiring another advance fee. The sums requested escalate, with each 'almost there' message reinforcing the victim's sunk-cost psychology.
Some variants use forged Swiss court or bank documents with authentic-looking letterheads to extend credibility.
Common red flags
- Unsolicited email about an unclaimed Swiss bank account or inheritance in your name
- Request for CHF advance fees to release a larger amount
- Escalating fees with repeated 'almost released' assurances
- Swiss bank or court document attached to an unsolicited email
- Contact demands strict secrecy to 'comply with Swiss banking laws'
- Sender email domain does not match any verifiable Swiss institution
How to protect yourself
- Delete unsolicited inheritance or unclaimed-account emails without engaging
- Verify any claimed Swiss banking connection directly with the Swiss Bankers Association at swissbanking.org
- Never pay fees to receive a larger sum — legitimate inheritances do not work this way
- Report suspicious emails to NCSC at ncsc.admin.ch
- Warn elderly relatives who may be drawn to large promised windfalls
How to report it
- Report to NCSC at ncsc.admin.ch
- File a complaint with cantonal police cybercrime unit
- Alert the Swiss Bankers Association if a specific Swiss bank is impersonated
Frequently asked questions
Are there really dormant Swiss bank accounts with unclaimed funds?
There are dormant accounts in Switzerland, but the Swiss Banking Ombudsman handles claims through a formal process that never involves paying upfront fees via email. Legitimate claims require documented proof of relationship to the account holder.