The only websites with information about the Family 500+ programme authorised by the government are: rodzina500plus.gov.pl, obywatel.gov.pl, the official websites of ministries and some banks.

We wrote about how this programme will be implemented in Bolesławiec in the article PLN 500 per child: take care of your family and submit an application.

Let us remember that both submitting an application and downloading it are free of charge. Police warn against scammers who exploit our lack of awareness and knowledge through fake websites to obtain personal data and money.

– Therefore, we would like to remind you that none of the institutions responsible for accepting applications for payment of the benefit requires applicants to provide or confirm personal data by email or text message. Scammers usually ask for such details as a first and last name, identity card number, PESEL number, place of residence and other information – officers say.

Officers ask anyone who encounters such criminal activity to contact the police by telephone (on 997 or 112) or in person at the nearest police station.

Here are some basic rules for staying safe online:

  • do not use Internet cafés, as we cannot be sure whether the software installed on a given computer is legal and up to date, nor do we know who previously used that computer and for what purpose
  • use a legitimate operating system. Pirated, illegal software may contain spyware that transmits our confidential data to unauthorised persons
  • install antivirus and antispyware software – they will protect our computer from viruses and hacking programs. Free versions of such programs can be found online and downloaded legally
  • it is worth getting a so-called firewall, which will block attempts to break into our computer from the network
  • regularly update the operating system, antivirus and antispyware software, and other programs we use while connecting to the Internet; software vulnerabilities may be used to break into the computer
  • when logging in to email or websites, enter your login and password manually, change your password from time to time, and try not to use the same password for several online accounts
  • do not open email messages from unknown senders and do not use links distributed in unsolicited mail (so-called spam) or via instant messaging; they may lead to dangerous websites or programs. Using antispam software significantly reduces the amount of unwanted mail
  • do not send any personal data or other important information electronically.

Let us take care of our online safety.

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