On Monday, we reported that the Jelenia Góra District Prosecutor’s Office had submitted an indictment to the local District Court against 41-year-old Piotr A., who was accused of acting in an organised criminal group, committing fraud using the “grandchild” method (28 people), and attempting to commit the same offence against a further 6 people.
The scammer operated throughout the country, including in Bolków and Kamienna Góra. From 19 January to 21 May 2013, the perpetrator telephoned an elderly person each time, claiming to be their grandson and needing help—namely, money (in amounts ranging from PLN 2,500 to PLN 25,000). More on this subject in the article He defrauded 28 people using the “grandchild” method and took over PLN 257,000.
Thieves are becoming increasingly brazen. Elderly people living alone are most often targeted. Recently, Bolesławiec police recorded another case of this kind. A woman from Bolesławiec fell victim to scammers after a man called her pretending to be her son. He said that he had caused a road accident and needed money to avoid liability. Another person, whom the alleged son introduced as a police officer, confirmed his story. The woman handed money over to the scammers.
Police warn that, after selecting a victim, criminals call and introduce themselves as a family member. It also happens that someone claiming to be an employee of the Municipal Social Welfare Centre or a representative of ZUS knocks on the door and asks the resident to complete a survey supposedly related to a planned increase in a disability or retirement pension.
In the survey, we provide information about how much savings we have, the names of our family members, or who looks after us. In this way, we provide scammers with information.
They then call us and, using a changed voice, pretend to be, for example, a grandchild who is in a difficult situation—family, financial or otherwise—and asks for help. When the fake grandchild is supposed to come for the money, they call to say that they cannot come for very important reasons, such as illness, hospitalisation or a trip. However, they add that they will send a trusted friend. The impersonator arrives, collects the cash and, of course, never appears again.
Criminals prey on people’s naivety. Police appeal to the residents of our county to look after their elderly relatives and warn them about this type of behaviour. Do not:
- provide any information by telephone about our home, savings, when we are at home or who we live with
- complete any surveys containing similar questions
- give cash or any other belongings to strangers
- let survey takers, salespeople or other suspiciously behaving people into the house.
All situations of this kind should be reported to the police immediately.
(information: KPP Bolesławiec/Jelenia Góra District Prosecutor’s Office/ii)