The arrest on February 2 of a resident of Wałbrzych County suspected of participating in an organized criminal group involved in “police officer” scams was the result of joint operations by criminal officers from the Lower Silesian Provincial Police Headquarters, Lwówek Śląski, Jelenia Góra and Kamienna Góra. “During the operational work conducted, officers established that the woman operated in several counties of Lower Silesia. She successively defrauded three elderly women of PLN 80,000, PLN 22,000 and PLN 43,000, thereby depriving the victims of their life savings,” reports junior aspirant Przemysław Ratajczyk from the Provincial Police Headquarters in Wrocław.

According to investigators’ findings, the 30-year-old also attempted to defraud an elderly woman living in Karkonosze County of PLN 180,000. Fortunately, the senior realized that she was dealing with a fraudster.

The arrested woman was taken into police custody. Officers are currently examining all the circumstances of the case in detail. Further arrests cannot be ruled out.

Spokesperson:

Let us remember that if we do not want to become victims of this type of fraud, we must be aware that criminals trying to deprive us of our savings and valuables usually follow one established pattern, which is generally modified only slightly. When attempting to extort money by impersonating a police officer, perpetrators exploit the public trust associated with the profession. Fraudsters provide a fabricated service ID number and personal details, and during contact with the victim may even possess a counterfeit badge. They usually inform potential victims that they are working on a case involving the extortion of a large amount of cash, or ask them to hand over money in connection with a road accident allegedly caused by a close family member.

Ultimately, they arrange to meet the victim at a specified time and place, preferably somewhere without surveillance cameras. The criminals then disappear with the cash, while the victims are left without their entire life savings.

And adds:

WARNING! If we suspect that fraudsters may be on the other end of the line, we must not give them information about the funds we have accumulated. Under no circumstances should we withdraw cash or hand it over to strangers.