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Alleged SMS scammers arrested in Geneva and Paris

Tuesday, 24 March 2026 06:44

Police in Geneva and Paris have made several more arrests linked to a parking fine scam which affected the whole of French speaking Switzerland.

Three were detained in September, but now a further nine have been detained.

The scam worked by using devices known as SMS blasters. The machines are based in cars and they electronically hijacked phones in the vicinity and sent messages, seemingly from the Parking Foundation website, which demanded payment of CHF 40 for an unpaid fine. 

The QR code sent diverted victims to a fake website. It's thought the scammers made more than CHF 2m.

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