The "police" approach an individual and ask to see their wallets or identification, in order to steal cash. The scam has sometimes been reported as being more elaborate, whereby an accomplice approaches the victim posing as a criminal, before the "police" swoop in to help, asking to see everyone's documents.
Switzerland ranks within the top 15 countries in the world in terms of low crime stats, and is regularly considered as one of the safest countries in the world — but revelations of a number of confidence scams in the country's major tourist destinations threatens to damage their reputation.
The police uniform scam is not dissimilar to one carried previously in Geneva — back in 2013 — which was estimated to have stolen around US$35,000 before it was broken up by Swiss authorities.
The main difference between that operation and the current one, is that the 2013 thieves posed as plain clothes officers, whilst the latest scam involves highly convincing police uniforms.
Whether or not these previous operations are related to the latest police uniform scam is uncertain, but travelers in Switzerland are being encouraged to exercise vigilance, and to check any official identification closely. As the target for these crimes tends to be tourists though, they are less likely to be able to spot flaws in uniforms or ID documents.
UN Staff, some of whom have allegedly fallen victim to the confidence tricksters, have reiterated warnings issued in 2013; suggesting that in cases where there is doubt, individuals should not hand over any belongings and should call 117 for the Swiss Police.
