Requests for financial assistance

A person you know asks for financial assistance and claims to be in need. 

A person you know asks for help, claiming to be abroad and in financial difficulty. The bogus emails ask you to transfer money. In this type of attack, the fraudsters access the victim's email account with stolen login credentials and write directly to selected contacts from the email account in the victim's name. 

Specific measures

• Do not pay under any circumstances. If you receive an email request for money from someone you know, the NCSC recommends that you check the plausibility of the request and verify it using an alternative communication channel.
• The fraudsters appear to have had access to the sender's email account. Inform the sender so that they can change the password immediately. If the emails were sent from your email account, change your password straight away.
• The attackers send the fraudulent emails to all contacts in the hacked account. You can protect them from any damage if you warn them.
• If you made a payment, immediately contact the financial institution through which you made the payment. They may still be able to stop it.
• If you are interested in having your case investigated under criminal law, you can report the matter to your local cantonal police. They will then initiate the necessary investigations

Preventive measures

• Do not disclose your password to anyone. No one, not even an internet service provider, will ask you to change your password by email, telephone or text message. This is a case of phishing.
• Choose a different password for each online service (email, e-banking, online shops, etc.). 

Effects and risks

• Financial loss for the recipients
• Compromised email account for the sender
• Loss of confidential emails
  

Further Information

• You will find further information on our website: 
  My account has been hacked – what next?

Last modification 22.02.2021