Cryptocurrencies, thanks to these
digital currencies, some have become millionaires.
The
media and social networks love these stories.
SOUNDS: EXCERPT BFM + EXCERPT RS DUBAI
source: YouTube
These
examples are the envy of many.
And the
scammers have understood this.
Fake
cryptocurrency investment platforms have become their favorite toy.
This
forty-year-old from Geneva went through one of them.
He lost
a lot of money.
His
family doesn't know about it and he doesn't want to be recognized.
ITV Testimonial 1
"It
started with small amounts of $250 to earn between $10 and $20"
The
person on the other end of the line then encourages them to invest more.
ITV Testimonial 1
"So
at the beginning it's $2,500
01:45
TITLE: Who Wants to Lose Millions?
Adrien
Schopfer heads the Vaud brigade that fights against cybercrime.
Here,
investigations are carried out using lines of code, behind large screens.
We show
him the CT MAtador investment platform through which our Genevan has invested
more than 200,000 francs.
She is
always online, and the police officer knows her well.
It also
claimed victims in the canton of Vaud.
02:15
Adrien
Schopfer
Vaud
Cantonal Police
ITV
SCHOPFER
"CT
Matador"
But
victims usually don't know much about finance.
And
once money is sent to fraudulent platforms, nothing is actually invested.
Sometimes,
small amounts are paid out to build confidence, and fake charts make it look
like profits.
ITV
Schopfer
"Graphic
design"
There
are hundreds of these fake websites, with different names and appearances.
This
makes investment scams the number 1 problem for the Vaud police officer.
ITV Schopfer
"Ah,
we're talking millions"
In
total, in the canton of Vaud, 14 million people have been lost, with more than
a hundred cases in 2022.
Elsewhere
in Switzerland, the situation is the same: 8 million
in the canton of Geneva.
€40
million for the one in Zurich.
In Switzerland
last year, 114 million Swiss francs were lost for more than 1200 cases.
According
to the police contacted, the figures for 2023 will be even higher.
...
And to
attract the Swiss to these fake platforms, the technique is tried-and-tested.
04:20
Adrien
Schopfer
Vaud
Cantonal Police
ITV
Schopfer
"It's using fake pages on the internet"
04:36
Replace
the shot with Alain Berset with the shot with Philippe Revaz at 4s in the file:
“USURATION_D_IDENTITE_17nov23”
in MAM/MISPO CRYPTO SCAMS/A.Archives
Fake
websites with Swiss celebrities...
This
pensioner from Valais also fell for it.
ITW
victime valais
"I
was on the internet with my
cell phone"
The
retiree agrees.
The one
who presents himself as his trader then pushes him to invest more and more.
ITW
victime valais
"I
sometimes have phones 3 times a day"
His
third pillar and an inheritance goes through it, i.e. more than 100 thousand
francs.
ITW
victime valais
"Really
shameful."
We are
trying to get in touch with the people behind these fake investment sites.
After
some research, we came across an article that copied the RTS website.
He
touts a miracle platform, with which one could make a lot of money.
..
After
checking with experts: it is indeed a scam.
We
decide to provide our phone number.
After
only about ten minutes, we receive a call, with a Swiss number.
SOUND
"Yes hello.. my name is Olivier, I'm calling you from
InvestMarket"
07:20
Hello,
my name is...
I'm
calling you from InvestMarket
07:31
Of
course, of course,
There's
no problem.
So,
actually, it's very simple.
It's
a robot that makes the investment for you.
Okay, so it's
going to open and close the positions,
And
he's going to shut them down when it's most profitable for you.
All
right?
07:47
It
is important to remember that this is not a payment.
It's
an investment.
So
the money will always be yours,
it's your investment.
That's
why you need proof of identity and proof of address.
After
that, once all that is done, everything is autonomous.
So
at that time, you'll be at peace,
You
can always go to your app to see if you have any winnings.
Once
you have earnings,
You
can withdraw your money, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
It
only takes two to three days for it to arrive in your bank account.
08:23
That
is not the case, sir.
This
is not the case.
You
can withdraw your money at any time.
It's
your money.
And
there's no one who's going to tell you what to do with your money.
After
all, you can't make everyone happy.
It
is, after all, a financial institute
08:45
We've
been active in Switzerland for 20 years, sir.
That's
why you can only make the deposit with a Swiss card.
08:55
Basel.
09:18
No,
I told you,
the head office is in Cyprus,
All
right?
The man
on the other end of the line is looking for money and promises us quick wins.
"It's
very simple... in your bank account."
We share our doubts and the comments of many victims who say they have never been able to find their money.
"That's
not the case, sir... You can withdraw your money at any time"
But
according to our research, the platform has no presence in Switzerland.
It is
in fact based in Cyprus.
We
decide to confront our interlocutor.
"The
head office is in Cyprus..."
Suspicious,
the employee hangs up on us.
Cyprus
would therefore be one of the countries that host these fake platforms.
When
contacted, the Cypriot police confirmed that they were investigating
the Investmarket investigation:
QUOTE
"We
can't comment on this particular company because investigations are ongoing.
We
expect the Swiss authorities to send us a specific request for mutual legal
assistance."
The
investigations are therefore well and truly being carried out at the
international level.
Other
countries are concerned.
09:57
source: Europol
Here,
the Lithuanian and Bulgarian police show arrests in two call centers.
A
criminal network dismantled last April has claimed more than 30,000 victims,
for nearly 90 million euros in damages.
These
arrests and seizures are ultimately the only way to recover some money for the
victims.
But
often, it has already been cleared.
10:35
Adrien
Schopfer
Vaud Cantonal Police
ITV Schopfer
"What's
quite complicated is that"
For the
cantonal police, it is difficult to carry out such actions abroad.
Especially
for small cantons that have few resources to fight cybercrime.
ITV Schopfer
"It's
a form of organised crime"
An
appointment was therefore made in Bern, with the Office of the Attorney General
of Switzerland, who was accused of being too passive in the face of this
cybercrime.
The
attorney general was keen to respond personally to the criticism.
12:09
Stefan
Blättler
Attorney
General of Switzerland
ITV Blättler
"Cyber
cannot be the award criteria... This can't be the solution, I think."
In the
face of investment scams, the federal government's investigators do not seem to
want to play too much.
The
Swiss will therefore have to rely on the cooperation of the cantonal police
forces,
but also be more suspicious, and not always believe what our screens tell
us.
13:03
END
CARTON:
Loïc
Delacour
Had Ben Hamidane
Robi
Kehl
Sebastien
Fawer
Pierre
Bader