Most online dating interactions proceed without incident. Some do not. Someone becomes intrusive, someone threatens, someone has asked for and received money. In that moment, two questions arise simultaneously: What do I do first? And who do I even turn to?
Both can be answered, and in a clear order. In this article, we show which steps truly matter in the first hours, which Swiss agencies are responsible for what, and what filing a report achieves, even if the perpetrators are abroad.
First: the order is correct
The most common mistake is well-intentioned. Many immediately block and delete the chat because they no longer want to see the incident. However, this removes precisely the information that the bank and police will later need. Therefore, the rule is:
Secure evidence > block > report > bank > file a report.
And if money is on its way, the bank comes before everything else. For a payment made only a few hours ago, every minute counts.
Step 1: Secure evidence
Before you delete or block anything, secure:
- Screenshots of the profile, including username, profile pictures, and, if visible, profile URL.
- The chat history, as complete as possible and with dates. Many messengers offer a chat export function.
- All payment details: IBAN, account holder, recipient country, payment receipts, and for cryptocurrencies, the wallet address and transaction ID.
- Phone numbers and email addresses through which contact was made.
This information is more valuable for a report than any recollection from memory.
Step 2: End contact and block
After that, break off contact, without discussion and without announcement. Any explanation only gives the other party an opportunity for a new story. Block the person on all channels where contact existed, and change passwords if you have shared login details.
Expect someone new to contact you shortly thereafter, friendly, helpful, and offering to get your money back. This is part of the same scam. Block these contacts as well.
Step 3: Report to the platform
Report the profile where you found it. This applies to dating sites as well as Facebook, Instagram, or WhatsApp. A report not only protects you: it allows the platform to block the profile before the next person is contacted.
At DuoLivo, every report leads to a manual review. We have openly documented how we handle profiles that are flagged.
Step 4: Immediately inform the bank
If money has been transferred, call your bank immediately, even in the evening and on weekends, using the emergency number on the back of your card. Explicitly ask for a recall of the payment. Have the date, amount, and recipient details ready.
What is realistically possible depends on the payment method. Domestic transfers can sometimes still be stopped; for card payments, a chargeback may be an option depending on the case. For international transfers and cryptocurrencies, the money is usually gone. Even then, the call is correct: the bank documents the case and can monitor your account.
If you have sent copies of your ID or photos of cards, tell the bank about this as well. Such documents are used for opening accounts in other people’s names.
Step 5: File a report with the police
You can report a criminal offense verbally or in writing and free of charge at any police station or public prosecutor’s office. Bring an official ID and your secured documents, either printed or on a USB stick. Fraud in Switzerland falls under Article 146 of the Penal Code, and any injured person can file a report, even against an unknown perpetrator.
Do not wait too long. More serious offenses are prosecuted ex officio by the authorities; for minor offenses, a criminal complaint is required, and there is a three-month deadline for this.
Some cantons now offer online reporting via the Swiss online police station Suisse ePolice. In the Canton of Bern, for example, certain cybercrime offenses can be reported independently since the beginning of 2024. Which cases your canton of residence allows online can be found on the website of your cantonal police. If your case is not listed, go to the police station.
And the honest answer to the question everyone asks: The Swiss Crime Prevention itself states that in many fraud cases, a report brings little immediate benefit to the victim because the perpetrators are located abroad. However, it still helps law enforcement authorities: the more cases are recorded, the more likely connections can be identified, and sometimes a lead does point to Switzerland. In addition, there’s a practical point: for claims against banks and insurance companies, a report is often the basis.
Step 6: Report to the Federal Government
Regardless of filing a police report, you can report the incident to the Federal Office for Cybersecurity (FACS) via the FACS reporting form. This report is voluntary and strongly recommended; the vast majority of reports come from private individuals. It contributes to the federal government’s situation assessment and helps to detect new scams early. The FACS maintains an overview of current threats under Information for Private Individuals.
Important: A report to the FACS does not replace a police report. The two paths serve different purposes.
If you are being pressured
Sometimes it’s not a request, but a demand: Someone has intimate recordings or claims to have them and demands money. A simple rule applies here: do not pay. A payment does not end the demands; it only confirms that you are willing to pay.
Here too, secure the evidence, break off contact, and go to the police. In case of immediate danger, dial the police emergency number 117.
In these cases, victim support is also responsible: it explicitly advises on threats, blackmail, and cyberstalking. Counseling is free and confidential, and you are free to choose a counseling center, even outside your canton of residence. Since May 1, 2026, victim support has also been available throughout Switzerland 24/7 via the short number 142. 142 is not an emergency number; in case of immediate danger, dial 117.
You don’t have to apologize for anything or explain to anyone how it happened.
If it’s weighing on you
A scam of this kind doesn’t just affect your bank account. It affects your trust in your own judgment, and for many, that weighs more heavily than the financial loss. Shame is the most common reason why cases are never reported. It is understandable, and it is unfounded: the responsibility lies with the perpetrators.
If you simply want to talk, Die Dargebotene Hand at phone number 143 is available 24/7, anonymously and confidentially, also via email or chat, which is staffed daily from 10 AM to 10 PM.
And if you are unsure whether victim support is responsible for you in cases of pure financial fraud: contact them anyway. They will refer you to the appropriate place in any case.
The most important step is often the least spectacular: tell someone you trust. Silence rarely makes things easier.
Overview of Contact Points
- 117 – Police emergency number for immediate danger
- Cantonal Police – Report, free of charge, at any station
- Suisse ePolice – Online report, depending on canton and offense
- FACS Reporting Form – Voluntary report of cyber incidents to the federal government
- Swiss Crime Prevention – Information and advice on scam methods
- 142 – Victim Support for threats, blackmail, stalking, and violence, free and confidential
- 143 – Die Dargebotene Hand, 24/7, anonymous
- Your Bank – Emergency number on the back of your card
- The Platform Itself – Reporting function on the profile
Conclusion: Action beats brooding
Those who have been scammed spend time asking how it could have happened. This question can wait. Secure the evidence, break off contact, call the bank, and go to the police. In this order, the most can be salvaged, and every report makes the next scam a little less successful.
We have described how such contact can be recognized early in a separate article: Recognizing Romance Scams: Seven Recurring Patterns.
👉 Discover DuoLivo now – serious dating for singles aged 50+ in Switzerland.
Frequently Asked Questions
If the payment was made recently, first call the bank, immediately and even outside business hours. Sometimes the payment can then still be recalled. After that, the usual order applies: secure evidence, block contact, report to the platform, and file a police report.
For individual cases, it often brings little benefit, as even Swiss Crime Prevention states. However, it helps investigative authorities link cases, and it is often the basis for claims against a bank or insurance company.
In several cantons, yes, via Suisse ePolice, but only for certain offenses. What is possible in your canton can be found on the website of your cantonal police. Otherwise, the way to the police station applies.
The FACS evaluates voluntary reports, identifies new scams from them, and warns the public. The police remain responsible for your individual case. Doing both together takes about twenty minutes.
In cases of threats, blackmail, or stalking, definitely. For pure financial fraud, formally no, but victim support will refer you to the appropriate place in any case. Counseling is free and confidential.
