Increasing numbers of people in Switzerland are buying firearms; government warns about the new ‘supermarket scam’ ; and more news in our roundup on Tuesday.
Increasing numbers of people in Switzerland are buying firearms
A survey conducted by SRF public broadcaster reveals a 10 to 30-percent increase in firearm acquisition permits in 2025.
Authorities, however, are not concerned about this trend.
According to Karin Kayser-Frutschi, president of the Conference of Cantonal Directors of Justice and Police, “the uncertainty of the global situation partly explains this continued increase.”
However, what’s important isn’t the number of permits, but who they’re issued to and under what conditions the weapons are used, she said.
There is no need for concern though, Kayser-Frutschi pointed out. because Switzerland’s firearms legislation “is rigorously applied.”
Government warns of yet another scam being perpetrated in Switzerland
This latest one concerns supermarket loyalty points – Coop’s Supercard and Migros’ Cumulus.
According to the Federal Office for Cybersecurity (BACS), victims have received an email or text message – supposedly from one of the two retail chains – alerting them to soon-to-expire loyalty points, with instructions on how to redeem them as quickly as possible for rewards like bicycles, household appliances, or other items.
The message seems genuine, except that at the very end, recipients are asked to provide credit card details.
The BACS is warning consumers not to trust such messages, while Coop and Migros point out that their fidelity point s“never expoire.”
This is just the latest in a long line of frauds perpetrated online by scammers in (often successful) attempts to extort money from unsuspecting victims.
READ MORE: Swiss government warns of a new scam targeting job seekers
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Driver caught smuggling baklava into Switzerland
What is it with people attempting to bring baked goods across Swiss borders without declaring them at customs?
Only a few months ago, an Italian national was caught at a border crossing in Ticino with 66 pannettones he was bringing illegally into Switzerland.
And on Monday, the Federal Office of Customs and Border Protection (BAZG) stopped yet another smuggler: a Turkish man, driving a car with Swiss licnse plateds, was trying to sneak in 270 kg of undeclared blaklava from Germany – ostensibly for personal consumption.
The man was slapped with a several-hundred-franc fine, in addition to a customs duty, BAZG said.
If you have any questions about life in Switzerland, ideas for articles or news tips for The Local, please get in touch with us at news@thelocal.ch
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