Strangers send fake cheques and convince their victims to transfer money abroad.
In this type of scam, the fraudsters book a legitimate service, such as a hotel or event venue, and then ask the provider to arrange and pay for additional services through scam websites that they secretly control – for example car rentals, catering or tickets. They promise to reimburse the provider later, or provide a bad cheque as a guarantee. In another version of the scam, the fraudsters ask the hotel to purchase gift cards and send them the codes in advance. If you've made a payment and suspect you've been scammed, you should contact your bank immediately.
Specific measures
Preventive measures
How the NCSC can help
Further information
- If you have made a payment, contact the bank you used immediately. They may be able to stop the payment.
- If you receive an offer that follows this pattern, do not engage further and break off contact.
- If you have suffered a financial loss, we recommend that you report it to the police. You can find your nearest police station on the Suisse ePolice website (available in German, French and Italian).
- Be careful with cheques.
- It can take several weeks for a bank to confirm whether a cheque will clear. You are usually liable to the bank if you deposit a bad cheque.
Your report via the online form helps the NCSC identify trends. This makes it possible for the NCSC to raise public awareness in a targeted way.
Last modification 04.11.2025
