Latest news Zurich cantonal police arrest two money couriers

The Zurich cantonal police have arrested two money couriers who were supposed to collect loot for telephone fraudsters. The 44-year-old German and the 32-year-old North Macedonian stated that they had accepted a job offer as a courier via an online platform.

In the first case, a 67-year-old man received a call from a fake police officer who convinced him that his money was in danger. However, the man became suspicious and informed the real police at the same time as the phone call, as they reported on Friday. They were able to arrest the money collector a short time later.

Three days later, telephone fraudsters called a 79-year-old woman and pretended to be a bank security guard. The story this time was that the police were investigating a fraudulent bank employee and that she should pick up 18,000 francs in cash - to check whether it was counterfeit money.

However, when the woman went to collect the money, a bank employee became suspicious and informed the cantonal police. Shortly afterwards, the police were able to arrest the second courier.

The police warn against supposedly lucrative job offers as couriers. Anyone who carries out courier trips with money or other assets derived from a crime could be liable to prosecution.