Bolesławiec police officers regularly remind residents of the principle of limited trust toward strangers who knock on the door of our home or call us. Officers in Lower Silesia regularly receive reports of this type of fraud.

What does the “grandchild” method involve?

  1. The criminals call a landline telephone, pretending to be a grandson, granddaughter, nephew or niece.
  2. The voice on the telephone is distorted, so the fake grandchild says that he is ill.
  3. The caller explains to the senior woman or man that they caused an accident or committed a crime and urgently need cash to avoid being held responsible.
  4. They ask for a loan in order to pay, for example, compensation.

To ensure that the plan does not fall through at the crucial moment, the scammer says that they cannot come for the money in person and will send a colleague to collect it. A friend of the “grandchild” then appears and often takes the deceived victim’s life savings.

What are the 4 rules for senior safety?

  1. Never hand your money to a stranger, and do not leave money in a place indicated by the caller.
  2. Never call numbers provided by the person calling you.
  3. Call your relatives and ask whether they really need help.
  4. Immediately inform the Police about an attempted fraud.