79-Year-Old Man Loses CHF 40,000 in Romance Scam
A 79-year-old retired man in Winterthur has lost more than CHF 40,000 after becoming the victim of a suspected romance scam, according to local police.
The Stadtpolizei Winterthur confirmed the arrest of two suspects linked to the case. Investigators say the victim became acquainted earlier this year with two women from Romania, who later visited him at his home.
Authorities stated that the relationship quickly developed into an emotionally close and romantic connection. During this period, the suspects allegedly requested financial support by claiming to face urgent personal problems, including housing debt, medical expenses for a family member, and notary fees.
Over several meetings, the elderly victim reportedly transferred or handed over more than CHF 40,000 to the individuals involved.
The man later became suspicious and filed a complaint with Winterthur police, prompting a detailed investigation.
On April 24, police arrested a 29-year-old woman with German-Romanian dual citizenship and a 36-year-old Turkish man while they allegedly attempted to collect an additional CHF 6,500 from the victim.
Both suspects are currently under investigation for repeated fraud offences and have been handed over to prosecutors.
