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Report the fraud to the cantonal police immediately. Provide all available evidence: contracts, payment records, correspondence, transaction references, and identity information for the counterparty. The police report is a prerequisite for criminal prosecution and unlocks investigative tools including bank record production, platform data disclosure, and international cooperation.
Where the fraud involves an investment firm, crypto platform, forex broker, bank, or payment institution, file a complaint with FINMA. For real estate matters, contact the cantonal Grundbuchamt or notarial chamber. For cybercrime and phishing, register the incident with NCSC. For financial reporting fraud, notify FAOA. Regulatory notification creates an official record and may trigger a supervisory investigation.
Contact your bank or card issuer immediately to block compromised accounts and cards and initiate recall or chargeback procedures. This step must be taken on the day the fraud is discovered — every hour of delay reduces the chances of successful fund recovery.
Check the counterparty’s registration status in Swiss company registers. Verify the absence of bankruptcy or dissolution records through the Konkursamt. Insolvency entries inform the enforcement strategy and determine whether urgent asset preservation measures are required.
Save all correspondence, contracts, invoices, payment confirmations, website screenshots, email headers, and bank statements without alteration. Digital evidence is critical for both criminal investigation and civil proceedings and may become inaccessible if platforms delete accounts or the counterparty destroys records. Evidence preservation should begin immediately upon discovery of the fraud.
Criminal complaints are filed with the cantonal police and prosecuted by the Cantonal Prosecutor’s Office (Staatsanwaltschaft / Ministère public). Fedpol handles federal coordination and Europol cooperation for cross-border cases. Relevant offences include fraud (Betrug / escroquerie), computer fraud, document forgery, money laundering, and fraudulent bankruptcy. Criminal proceedings provide access to investigative tools unavailable in civil litigation: bank record production orders, platform identity disclosure, telecommunications data, and international mutual legal assistance.
Civil proceedings before cantonal courts cover contractual claims, damages, restitution, unjust enrichment, and rescission of fraudulent transactions. Interim measures can be obtained to freeze assets before the conclusion of main proceedings. The Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland is the appellate court of last resort. Civil litigation targets both the fraudster directly and institutions that failed to fulfil their supervisory obligations.
Complaints to FINMA create a supervisory record and may trigger an investigation into the entity’s conduct. FINMA may revoke a licence, issue an order, impose a ban on activity, or appoint an administrator over assets. Ombudsfin provides out-of-court resolution for disputes with regulated financial entities. Regulatory findings may support civil claims by establishing that the entity breached its obligations under Swiss financial law. FAOA handles complaints relating to auditing misconduct.
Criminal complaints filed within hours of discovery give investigators the best chance of tracing funds before they are moved or layered through intermediary accounts. Bank recall mechanisms are most effective on the day of the fraudulent transaction. Prompt notification of FINMA or NCSC creates a contemporaneous supervisory record that strengthens both criminal and civil proceedings.
A named counterparty with identifiable assets in Switzerland — bank accounts, real property, registered companies — is the most viable target for civil recovery and enforcement. Where the fraudster operated anonymously or through shell structures, identification is pursued through criminal investigation: police requests to banks, platforms, and telecommunications operators.
Where a regulated institution — bank, payment institution, investment firm, or forex platform supervised by FINMA — failed to comply with its supervisory obligations, claims against that institution provide an alternative recovery path against a solvent, regulated defendant. This path does not depend on the fraudster’s identifiability or asset position.
Contracts, payment records, correspondence, transaction references, and digital forensic evidence form the foundation of both criminal prosecution and civil recovery. Incomplete evidence weakens both the criminal case and the civil enforcement position. Immediate, comprehensive evidence preservation at the point of discovery is the single most important step a victim can take to support recovery.
Fraud recovery in Switzerland operates through criminal proceedings, civil litigation, and regulatory complaints — each channel serving a distinct function in identifying the fraudster, preserving assets, and achieving financial recovery. FINMA supervises investment firms, crypto-asset services, forex platforms, banks, and payment institutions. NCSC handles cybercrime and phishing reports. Ombudsfin provides out-of-court resolution for financial disputes. The Konkursamt exercises bankruptcy supervision. The Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland is the appellate court of last resort.
Speed of reporting determines outcomes across all channels. Criminal complaints filed immediately preserve the investigative window for fund tracing and asset identification. Bank recall mechanisms lose effectiveness with each day of delay. Evidence preserved at the point of discovery — contracts, correspondence, payment records — forms the foundation for every recovery action. Proceedings are conducted in the language of the relevant canton, making early engagement of local counsel essential for international clients.
If you suffered financial losses through fraud involving Swiss companies, institutions, or counterparties, contact Veritas Advisory Group to have your legal position assessed.
Veritas Advisory Group provides professional legal and advisory services to victims of investment and trade fraud in Europe. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
