Cyberthreats

Fictitious promises such as profits or inheritances, which are usually sent by email. If you reply to such a message, some reason is given to request an advance payment such as fees, legal fees or taxes on profits.

Attack on the availability of websites or other internet services. These services are overloaded by a large number of requests.

Invoices that have already been received are sent again with a changed IBAN number or with the remark to usea different account number for future payments.

The NCSC is regularly receiving reports of phone calls that are ostensibly from an authority. The callers claim, for example, that there are issues with the SwissID and bank account.

Supposedly urgent payment request from the boss or CEO. Typically, the boss or CEO cannot be reached by telephone for further information.

When an item is sold on a classified ad platform, a fee has to be paid for transport or the alleged bank transfer, for example.

An item on a classified ad platform is not delivered or not paid for.

Someone tries to imitate an existing company or person. To do so, they register a domain name that looks so similar to the original that they could be mistaken for each other.

Data has been leaked. You may be blackmailed with the publication of this data. You want to report a data leak.

Exploiting a vulnerability to deface or change the content of one or more webpages.

Domain owners are informed by a dubious company that there is interest in domains with the same name and that these have to be registered immediately.

Blackmailers threaten to publish compromising pictures. The blackmailing comes unexpectedly. Extortionists and victims never had any previous contact.

A caller pretends to be an employee of an IT company (typically Microsoft) and tells the victim that their computer is infected and needs to be restored. A software needs to be installed to do this.

Fake threatening emails from authorities, so-called fake extortion emails, refer to a type of fraud in which the fraudsters claim that the people contacted have been found guilty of significant criminal misconduct and that the charges against them can be dropped only if they pay money.

Fraudulent job offers distributed via messaging services such as WhatsApp. Alleged recruiting companies lure with extraordinary promises of earnings.

Supposed promises of prizes of mobile phones or vouchers. In many cases, these are sent on behalf of well-known food and other retailers.

Goods ordered through a webshop are not delivered. Contact details for a webshop are missing or incorrect.

A system or account is infiltrated. This is done using passwords that were lost during a previous data leak.

The law mentions three types of pornography that are punishable offences: pornographic activities involving children, animals or violence.

Well-known figures allegedly advertise lucrative investment offers. They claim to have earned a lot of money in a very short time with these offers.

Software that attempts to cause damage on a computer. This can include the interception of communications, the theft or destruction of data or the manipulation of an e-banking transaction.

A job offer includes the receipt and transfer of money. Your own bank account has to be used for this.

Offers that promise large profits within a short period of time. The company usually operates solely online and it is difficult to determine its reliability.

Strangers send fake cheques and convince their victims to transfer money abroad.

A parcel notification with a payment request for a small fee requires your credit card details.

By means of phishing, the criminals lure victims into providing their passwords and other personal information. Another way of obtaining sensitive data is so-called vishing (short for voice phishing). Vishing uses verbal scams, usually over the phone, to trick people into doing things they believe are in their best interests. Data can also be stolen via text message. Smishing is a form of phishing, also known as SMS phishing, that uses convincing phishing SMS/text messages to trick potential victims into clicking on a link and sending personal information to the fraudster.

Data on the computer is no longer available or is encrypted.

Websites, emails or social media are used to spread false information that could damage the reputation of a company or individual.

A person you know asks for financial assistance and claims to be in need.

The digital version of marriage fraud is known as "romance scam" or "love scam”.

Attackers threaten to publish compromising pictures or video material if you do not respond to a ransom demand. Victims were previously contacted via social media and lured into undressing in front of the camera.

Theft of access credentials and hacking of a social media account.

Online offer that appears to be free at first glance but then turns out to be an expensive subscription. These offers aim to lure Internet users into quickly concluding a contract or purchasing a service.

A vulnerability has been found or a vulnerability has been exploited.

Attackers send an email or a message via the company's contact form stating that the server has been hacked. A ransom is to be paid to prevent the case from becoming public.