One in Seven Swiss Adults Victim of Cyber Scam: Survey

A new survey has found that one in seven adults in Switzerland has been a victim of a cyber scam. The survey, conducted by the Sotomo institute for insurance company Axa, was reported by the SonntagsZeitung newspaper.

Among those affected, one-third lost more than CHF 1,000 (around $1,200). Despite these losses, only a third of victims reported the incident to the police. Even when the financial loss was over CHF 1,000, less than half (46%) contacted authorities.

Official figures show that online crime is on the rise. In 2024, more than 59,000 online criminal cases were reported in Switzerland. However, the real number of victims is likely much higher, as most do not file a complaint.

The survey also showed that young people are more likely to fall for scams than older people. This may be because they make more purchases online, increasing their exposure to fraud.

The most common scams include fake online shops, which make up 38% of cases, followed by phishing emails used to steal personal information, which account for 33%.

Cybercrime is a growing concern for the public. Over 75% of those surveyed said it is a major challenge for society. The top concerns were cyber attacks on critical infrastructure (47%), online scams (44%), and the spread of false information or fake profiles (44%).

In comparison, fewer people worry about issues such as dependence on foreign tech companies (17%), the social effects of digital tools (18%), or their impact on mental health (16%).

The survey was carried out between February and March 2025 and included responses from 1,706 people across Switzerland.