Christmas time is peak fraud season: these are the latest scams

Fraud attempts are increasing just in time for Christmas. Digitec Galaxus and its customers are also affected. To make sure you don’t fall into the trap of a fraudster and can enjoy a carefree festive season, we’ve summarised the most popular scams making the rounds now:

Vouchers on resale platforms

There are numerous bargain offers for vouchers from well-known brands floating around resale platforms such as Tutti or Ricardo. For example, one 200-franc Galaxus voucher costs only 170 francs there, an Apple iTunes voucher worth 200 francs only 165. Unfortunately, the offers have a catch: the vouchers are often fake and don’t work at all.

Our fraud team actively monitors these voucher offers and intervenes directly in the event of clear attempts at fraud. Here’s a simple tip: if an offer is too good to be true, it’s probably a scam.

Fake CEO needs vouchers

In another case, a supposed CEO contacts their employees with an urgent assignment. They urgently need vouchers from a specific store (podcast in German) for a customer event or internal gifts. Apparently, they’d simply forgotten to buy them. Employees contacted by the scammers are asked to buy the vouchers directly on site or online and send the voucher code to the supposed company head by e-mail.

If this happens to you, check the sender immediately. And if in doubt, ask your boss or the person who supposedly gave you the assignment directly.

Parcel delivery notifications

Parcel delivery companies transport an above-average number of orders in the run-up to Christmas. As a result, you’ll receive various notifications from Swiss Post or other delivery companies via e-mail or SMS. Fraudsters take advantage of this, sending fake notifications across all channels, using a fake Swiss Post account, for example. Recipients are asked to click on a link and enter sensitive data.

The old rule applies: before clicking on a link, always check the sender. In the screenshot above, for example, the sender number almost screams fraud. Scammers can also often be recognised by their e-mail address. If in doubt, it’s worth contacting the delivery company’s customer service directly.

Fake additional services at Digitec Galaxus

«Looking for other ways to put something nice under the Christmas tree for your loved ones or yourself? You’ve got plenty of options: opening a mulled wine stand, selling socks at the Christmas market, rating products for Digitec Galaxus, forwarding parcels, etc.»

First off, product reviews for cash: what sounds like an easy way to earn extra money is actually a scam where the victims lose money (article in German). Digitec Galaxus never pays people for customer reviews.

Fraudsters are a little more sophisticated when it comes to parcel forwarding. Criminals recruit unknowing victims to receive their fraudulent orders. They claim that the orders have already been paid for and that the parcels are to be sent to a third-party address. But most often nothing is paid, and the victims are left to foot the bill.

Supposed job offers can also come via WhatsApp. There’s actually no job opening, and instead of making money, you’re the one who has to pay. SRF consumer magazine Espresso examined this scam in detail (episode in German).

Just remember: Digitec Galaxus never contacts applicants via WhatsApp or similar messenger services.

Are you aware of any other current scams? Feel free to share them with us and the Community in the comments.