Switzerland sees sharp drop in scam calls after new regulations

Swiss authorities are celebrating a sharp decline in fraudulent phone calls, attributing the success to new regulations that came into effect on July 1. The Federal Office for Cybersecurity (OFCS) announced that reports of scam calls, particularly those impersonating authorities, have decreased by over 75%. In July, only 100 such reports were filed, a dramatic drop from over 400 in previous months. This significant reduction is linked to a new ordinance that requires Swiss telecom operators to flag or block calls originating from abroad that display a Swiss mobile number. Similar obligations for fixed-line numbers were implemented in January. The ordinance mandates that the recipient's operator must mask the number, making it appear as 'unknown,' or block it if identified as fraudulent. While the OFCS highlighted this as a major success in its semi-annual report on cyberattacks, some experts urge caution. They point out that despite progress, cybercrime remains a persistent threat, and criminals are likely to adapt their methods. The report also noted a 64% decrease in fraudulent call reports from individuals during the first six months of the year, totaling 3,817 cases. The new measures aim to protect citizens from increasingly sophisticated phishing and scam attempts that have plagued the country.

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Calls impersonating authorities have decreased by more than 75% thanks to the identification obligation.