KPP Bolesławiec:

Even during the threat of coronavirus infection, criminals are defrauding older people. Unfortunately, scammers are still active—including in Lower Silesia. And they are trying, sometimes successfully, to extort cash from unsuspecting people.

They come up with ever newer methods of deception. They pose not only as police officers, employees of state institutions or family members, but, as recent days have shown, they can also impersonate employees of a company conducting disinfection.

They prey on people’s lack of awareness. They trick them into leaving their homes and order them to leave their savings in a designated place. These are often rubbish containers, isolated places, stairwells or some locations near churches, which apparently makes the caller’s intentions seem credible to the senior.

View photo: Police leaflets warning against scammers View photo: Police leaflets warning against scammers

Bolesławiec officers:

We must not allow ourselves to be deceived like this. We need to remember a few basic rules; thanks to them, our savings will not be at risk.

How can you avoid being scammed?

  • a police officer will never call to inform you about an operation
  • the police will never ask you to give money to someone, transfer it to an account or leave it somewhere
  • the police will never tell you to pay money as a so-called bail
  • let us not allow strangers into our homes; in such cases, it is best not to open the door at all
  • let us talk to the employees of the banks where we withdraw money, for example, about a suspicious call we have received; let us share any information that raises doubts about its credibility—the bank employees will certainly advise you properly
  • banks never send couriers to collect money from us
  • let us remember that if we want to verify the credibility of someone calling us and claiming, for example, to be a police officer, we should first hang up and only then dial the emergency number 112—only such a call is correct
  • if we have any doubts about the details of someone calling us or claiming to be an employee of an institution, let us verify them. Report such situations to the police and consult your family
  • let us remember not to be persuaded to leave our money in some isolated place; not to throw it out of the window or leave it in a place indicated by the scammer
  • let us not share codes, passwords or details of our bank accounts with anyone whose identity we are not certain of and whom we do not trust.

Bolesławiec officers add:

Let us talk to one another about such matters, whether with family or friends; let us warn one another.

Following these few rules can save our often long-saved life savings. Senior citizens—do not let yourselves be scammed!