The incident took place on September 16 this year. A 71-year-old resident of Zgorzelec received a call from a man claiming to be a police officer.
The caller—as is standard practice for fraudsters—informed the senior that she had fallen victim to criminals and that her money was at risk. He added that he wanted to save her savings.
Taking advantage of the woman’s distress and fears, the perpetrator manipulated the conversation in order to gain the senior’s trust and give her no time to think. To make his story seem credible, he asked his interlocutor to dial the emergency number on her phone.
At that point, an accomplice joined the conversation and confirmed the fraudster’s version of events.
Interestingly, the fake police officer told the woman that bank employees and a postman were also involved in the criminal scheme.
At the thug’s instruction, the senior went to the bank and withdrew her savings: PLN 27,600. She then handed the money to an unknown woman.
When she returned home, she realized that she had been defrauded. She informed the police about the entire incident.
As a result of operational work, Zgorzelec criminal investigators tracked down people who could be connected with the scheme and arrested two residents of Legnica County: a 28-year-old woman and her 44-year-old partner. (Telephones and money were secured.) Additionally, the man had 10 portions of methamphetamine on him.
The court remanded both suspects in temporary custody. The pair of fraudsters faces up to eight years in prison.
Police officers:
We remind you that no police officer discusses ongoing investigations by telephone or asks anyone to hand over money or transfer it to another bank account.