A 61-year-old resident of Legnica received a call from a man claiming to be a police officer. The conversation was, the victim later reported, very pleasant. In his “caring tone,” the fraudster persuaded the woman to withdraw her savings from a term deposit.
The woman went to a bank branch and withdrew the funds she had saved. Then, following the fraudster’s instructions, she put the money in a rubbish bin. She then returned to her apartment.
After 2 p.m., the man claiming to be a police officer called her again and warmly thanked her for taking part in the “operation,” while also informing her that he would soon arrive at her apartment with the prosecutor supervising the case. After that call, contact with the fraudster—of course—ended. The thieves defrauded the Legnica resident of more than PLN 16,000.
How can you avoid being defrauded by fake police officers?
Police officers:
If the caller introduces themselves as a police officer, remember: real police officers NEVER provide information about their cases over the phone and never ask anyone to hand money over to an unknown person. They will NEVER ask you to use your money in any kind of operation!
Ordinary caution can protect older people from losing savings accumulated over many years.