How to file a criminal complaint for an online scam in Switzerland: the steps

Have you been the victim of an online scam in Switzerland? Here are the right channels, the documents to prepare and the process, step by step, to file a complaint effectively.

By the ScamHunter.ch investigation team · Updated 19 July 2026 · 7 min read

Filing a criminal complaint is more than a formality: it is what triggers action by the authorities, lets your case be cross-referenced with other victims and opens the way to a possible freezing of the funds. In Switzerland, fraud is punishable under Article 146 of the Swiss Criminal Code and is prosecuted ex officio.

1. Should you really file a complaint?

Yes. Many victims give up out of shame or discouragement — which is exactly what scammers count on. But because fraud is prosecuted ex officio, you can report the facts at any time — though the earlier you act, the more realistic tracing and freezing the funds becomes. Every complaint also feeds the cross-referencing that helps identify networks.

2. Where to report and file a complaint in Switzerland

These channels complement one another:

• Cantonal police — the central channel. You can file a complaint at any police station or with the public prosecutor's office of your canton (Geneva, Vaud, Zurich…).
• Suisse ePolice — in participating cantons, the national portal lets you report certain offences online without going in person.
• FOCS (Swiss National Cyber Security Centre) — report fraudulent sites, e-mails and profiles to feed national monitoring.
• FINMA — for a financial or trading platform, check and report it via the warning list of unauthorised providers.

3. Prepare your complaint filing

A clear case file speeds up processing. Prepare:

• Your ID document and contact details.
• A chronological account of the events, dated and factual.
• The proof of payment: bank transfers, card statements, crypto transactions (with IDs/TXIDs).
• The recipient's details: IBAN, name, wallet address.
• The full record of exchanges, the URLs and time-stamped screenshots.

4. Filing, step by step

1. Gather and copy all your evidence (keep the originals).
2. Write your account of the events, from first contact to the last payment.
3. Choose the channel: police station, public prosecutor's office, or Suisse ePolice depending on your canton.
4. File the complaint and clearly set out the harm suffered and any identifying details available.
5. Ask for a copy or the case reference number, and keep it.
6. Report in parallel to the FOCS and, where relevant, to FINMA, and alert your bank.

5. What happens after you file?

The public prosecutor may open an investigation, request further investigative steps or, for lack of sufficient evidence, drop the case. This is precisely where a solid case file makes the difference: the more usable material you provide (identification, tracing of money flows, the recipient's details), the more the investigation has to work with.

6. Criminal complaint and private investigation: complementary

You don't have to have filed a complaint before starting a private investigation — and vice versa. An OSINT investigation can identify the presumed perpetrator and trace the money flows, then produce a report that strengthens your complaint with the authorities. To go further: identify a scammer using OSINT and recover your money after a crypto scam.

The ScamHunter.ch investigation team

Investigators specialising in OSINT, tracing money flows and digital investigation after online fraud. Based in Switzerland, in Geneva.

This article is for information only and is not individual legal advice. Procedures may vary from one canton to another; for any decision, consult the competent authorities or a qualified professional about your situation.