Fake threatening emails from authorities, so-called fake extortion emails, refer to a type of fraud in which the fraudsters claim that the people contacted have been found guilty of significant criminal misconduct and that the charges against them can be dropped only if they pay money.
Fake extortion involves threats made in the name of supposed authorities. Victims of this scam are often falsely accused of having viewed child pornography and are told that they must make a statement by email by a certain date. If they respond to the message, they are then pressured to pay a sum of money, supposedly to avoid arrest. The scammers use logos and stamps from cantonal, national, or international police agencies, or even the NCSC, to make their threats seem more legitimate. These extortionists send these messages indiscriminately, hoping that the threat of criminal charges will intimidate recipients into paying a ransom. Do not reply to these messages.
Specific measures
Preventive measures
How the NCSC can help
Further Information
- Ignore these types of messages and do not be intimidated.
- If you have already replied, break off contact immediately.
- Report it your email provider as spam.
- 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.
Be sceptical of emails or text messages that threaten you with consequences (e.g. loss of money, criminal charges, account/card blocking).
- 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.
- Internet domain names that mimic those of official authorities are reported to law enforcement agencies.
- Email addresses that are being used maliciously are reported to the providers so they can block them.
Last modification 09.10.2025
