Cédric Wermuth, co-president of the Swiss Social Democratic Party, has become an unwitting figure in a sophisticated online scam.

Fraudsters have been using fake profiles with his image to deceive women, particularly older ones, into transferring money.

The scam was uncovered when a bank employee became suspicious of a large transfer intended for Wermuth but directed to an account under a different name.

Wermuth, who has filed a criminal complaint with the Aargau cantonal police, revealed the scam on his podcast "Meyer:Wermuth.

" The perpetrators reportedly used AI to communicate with victims and even sent flowers to build trust.

This case marks a rare instance of a politician's identity being exploited in a "love scam," a crime that has recently been classified as a criminal offense in Switzerland.