As reported by the Lwówek KPP:
Cheap coal is currently the most sought-after commodity in Poland. Many residents are looking for cheap coal for the winter to heat their homes. Unfortunately, scammers take advantage of the desire to buy heating fuel by offering coal at a very attractive price and promising quick delivery. In reality, they are con artists who illegally profit from people's gullibility and misfortune.
Two residents of Lwówek County found this out after purchasing one tonne of coal each through a website for approximately PLN 2,200. The result? A few days after making the payment, the advertisement... disappeared from the website, while the seller neither answered the phone nor responded to the numerous text messages sent.
How can you avoid being scammed?
- Don't believe everything you read! A special offer or an unusually low price may indicate that we are dealing with fraud. Check every such offer carefully. Use trusted sales platforms..
- It is not worth believing every advertisement posted on popular websites. Some of them are created by scammers who want to get rich quickly at our expense.
- You should carefully check the offer and the company's credibility, read reviews, check its official website and contact an employee.
- Scammers create copies of websites belonging to companies that sell heating fuel. You should examine the website address carefully, because the domain name very often contains a typo or a distorted or incomplete company name. It is best to type the address into the browser window yourself, as this will help us avoid websites impersonating legally operating companies.
- When paying for an order, it is best to use the cash-on-delivery option, and if online payment is the only option available, pay attention to whether the internet connection to mobile banking is secure.
- You should also not respond to so-called special offers sent by SMS or email. Under no circumstances should you open links found in such messages or download attachments.