Scammers’ creativity knows no bounds. Their new method of defrauding clients involves convincing them that they will learn the whole truth about inheriting contributions only during a meeting with a “ZUS employee.” – We learned that people are calling our clients, introducing themselves as employees of the Institution and inviting them to a meeting about inheriting contributions from subaccounts and OFE – says Iwona Kowalska, ZUS regional press spokesperson in Lower Silesia. – Unfortunately, we do not know whether the purpose of the meeting is to obtain personal data fraudulently or to secure some kind of power of attorney concerning the disposition of funds from OFE or ZUS. Therefore, we appeal for caution and ask people to notify us or the police about such situations.
ZUS warns all insured persons that Institution employees do not call clients or—especially—visit them at home, particularly concerning the inheritance of pension contributions. Anyone interested in any social insurance matters, including the rules governing the inheritance of contributions, can use completely free consultations directly at customer service offices or through the ZUS Telephone Customer Service Centre at: (22) 560 16 00. People who have an individual account on the ZUS Electronic Services Platform (PUE ZUS) can also obtain information online, without having to leave home.
Let us remember that ZUS handles matters with clients by post or at Institution offices, as well as through the aforementioned authenticated profile on the Electronic Services Platform. Personal visits by ZUS employees to clients’ homes are extremely rare. They take place only when an inspection of the use of sick leave is being conducted. Other visits by Social Insurance Institution employees to a client’s home are preceded by written notice.
This is not the first attempted “ZUS employee” scam this year. In connection with these cases, the Social Insurance Institution asks people to exercise extreme caution when responding to invitations to such meetings. Personal data provided during such meetings, or documents signed there—for example, powers of attorney—could be used to the detriment of ZUS clients.
Anyone who has doubts about the identity of a person claiming to be a ZUS employee should contact the nearest ZUS office or the ZUS Telephone Customer Service Centre at 22 560 16 00, or notify the police.