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‘Retail tourism’: Geneva residents defy lockdown rules by shopping in Vaud

As all non-essential stores and businesses are closed in Geneva until November 30th, many residents are going shopping in the neighbouring Swiss canton of Vaud, where coronavirus restrictions are less stringent.

Published: 6 November 2020 11:34 CET

'Retail tourism': Geneva residents defy lockdown rules by shopping in Vaud

Geneva residents come to Vaud to have their hair cut. Photo by AFP

Among Geneva’s ‘mini-lockdown’ measures implemented on October 29th is the closure of all ‘non-essential’ shops and services. Only ‘basic necessity’ shops like food stores and pharmacies remain open.

On the other hand, the nearby canton of Vaud adapted more lenient rules, allowing all shops, along with wellness and personal care services such as hairdressers and nail salons, to continue to operate.

READ MORE: Vaud joins other Swiss cantons in implementing stricter Covid-19 measures

According to RTS public television, “shopping tourism is developing as a result of cantonal disparities in health measures”.

Numerous cars with Geneva license plates are parked in Vaud shopping centres like the one in Chavannes, which is in close proximity to Geneva.

That's because many Geneva residents drive to Vaud for what is deemed ‘non-essential’ shopping and services, the broadcaster said.

For instance, RTS interviewed one Geneva man who said he came to Vaud to purchase a pair of slippers “which are now impossible to buy in Geneva”.

But health experts warn that this kind of ‘canton-hopping’ is risky during a pandemic.

If people circulate from Geneva to Vaud, “everything that happens there will happen here “, said Didier Trono, member of Switzerland’s Covid-19 Task Force.

“People must understand that they have to adhere to the measures put in place in their own canton”, he added.

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Geneva commuters warned over public transport ticket scam

The ‘real’ cost of a yearly subscription to the TPG Unireso network costs 500 francs for adults, and 400 francs for pensioners and juniors.

So an offer that is hundreds of francs cheaper is obviously very appealing to those who have never heard of an old adage, “if it’s too good to be true, it’s probably isn’t.”

The fraudulent Facebook page, with a very realistic looking TPG logo, offers, as a special promotion, an annual travel card for the mere 2.35 francs. Fake profiles have written positive comments under the offer.

Fake TPG offer. Facebook public page

To benefit from the ‘last day’ of this incredible offer, customers must click on a link, which should raise red flags in even the most gullible individuals: it leads not to the official ‘tpg.ch’ address but to an external page, with a ‘com’ rather than ‘ch’ domain.

Once on this page, the still clueless customer learns that only 500 of the ‘special-offer’ cards remain available, so they must be purchased quickly.

But once they are on the payment page, they read that this is a three-month trial membership for 3 francs (not 2.35, but still suspiciouly cheap), and that if the membership is not cancelled by then (not sure how, since this is a fake), they will be charged 71 francs every 14 days.

The TPG does not have any figures on how many victoms fell prey to this scam, but the company’s spokesperson, François Mutter, said 134 customers “have contacted us to inquire about this offer.”

Who is behind this scam?

It is not known, but the site’s server is based in Saint Petersburg, Russia, Mutter said, adding that the TPG has informed the host as well as the Federal Office for Cybercrime.

But the scam is still running, and on a larger scale than just in Geneva.

According to Mutter, Belgian and French versions are also circulating.

Geneva police told 20 Minutes news platform that the primary goal of this scam (as countless others’) is to retrieve confidential banking information from their victims

The closure of the site can be requested from the host, “but the effect is often temporary. New sites will appear.”

In theory at least, the Public Prosecutor’s Office can open proceedings against the criminals and work with local authorities to trace the perpetrators — however, only if the sites are hosted in countries where international collaboration in these matters exists.

But, according to the police, “this is Russia.”

One of many

Unfortunately, this particular scam one is only the tip of the iceberg.

Countless others have been perpetrated in Switzerland in past years, and still are on-going currently.

You can find more about them here:

READ ALSO: The common scams foreigners in Switzerland need to be aware of

How can you avoid falling victim to a scam in Switzerland?

The most obvious piece of advice is to use common sense.

It may not always be easy to spot scammers, however, because many emails look like they come from official sources like the government or police, but neither would contact you by email and threaten you with terrible consequences if you don’t pay up.

If not sure about the legitimacy of ‘official’-looking email or message, always call the supposed sender to check.

The important thing is that you immediately delete any suspicious emails and block the sender from contacting you again.

Also, be vigilant about divulging any of your personal information and financial data to unknown callers, or individuals showing up at your doorstep.

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