26.11.2024 - The NCSC has received a growing number of reports of advertisements on social media that offer competitions or low-cost travelcards purportedly from Swiss and Liechtenstein transport companies. What may at first glance appear to be a tempting offer or a chance to win something may turn out to be a subscription or season ticket scam that could end up costing you dearly.
Advertisements for competitions and special offers are currently circulating on social media that look like they're from legitimate transport companies in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, but are actually from scammers. They are usually practically identical to the originals, as the scammers copy public posts in order to appear more credible. The fake social media accounts and the adverts each contain links to scam websites, where internet users are asked to answer a few simple questions. The prize is a low-cost travelcard. In order to receive the supposed bargain or prize, personal data such as credit card details, names, email and mobile numbers must be entered on the scam website. Often, by sending the information, a multi-year subscription is unwittingly taken out for an unwanted service that is unrelated to the advertised product. The cost is debited from your credit card immediately. In these cases, information on costs and other service conditions is difficult to read or can only be found in the general terms and conditions.
Deceptively real Facebook scam page for Montreux public transport (left). The Internet address given in the profile reveals that it is not the correct page.
Not a new scam
For readers of the NCSC Weekly Review, the scams described are nothing new, only the way in which they are spread. In the past, messages with competitions in the name of well-known companies (such as TCS, SBB, Coop and Migros) have been sent in large numbers to many recipients by email and SMS.
Recommendations
- Be wary of adverts on social media with tempting promises of prizes;
- Be particularly careful if you have to give your credit card details or phone numbers in order to access free offers.
- Do not forward these competitions to your contacts;
- Report these competitions to the relevant social media as possible fraud;
- If you have disclosed your credit card details, contact the credit card provider immediately;
- If you have disclosed your phone number, please contact your mobile provider.
- The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) recommends sending a registered letter to the provider immediately after discovering the error, in which you challenge the contract on the grounds of error and fraudulent misrepresentation. The letter should contain at least the following: ‘I have been misled by your website. I therefore contest the contract concluded on the grounds of mistaken consent and intent to mislead. The contract is therefore null and void.’ https://www.seco.admin.ch/seco/de/home/seco/nsb-news.msg-id-34118.html
Further Information
- SECO article and brochure on online subscription fraud: https://www.seco.admin.ch/seco/en/home/seco/nsb-news.msg-id-34118.html
- Factsheet of the Foundation for Consumer Protection on subscription fraud: https://www.konsumentenschutz.ch/themen/internet/sms-und-internet-abofallen-vermeiden
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Last modification 26.11.2024
