A resident of Bolesławiec received a phone call saying that her money was at risk. The caller claimed to be a police officer who would help protect the senior’s savings. Bolesławiec police:
The elderly woman believed the story she heard from the fake officer over the phone because the caller knew a great deal about her.
At one point, the man asked whether they could continue the conversation in Russian. The victim agreed and followed the instructions she received. She went to an ATM, where she first withdrew several dozen thousand zlotys and then made several deposits using a BLIK code provided by the fraudster.
Officers: – When the man tried to persuade the senior to make further transactions, she refused, partly because of the late hour, and said they could continue the next day. Naturally, the criminal told his victim not to discuss the money with anyone.
The following day, the Bolesławiec resident received another phone call. The officers:
She heard the same voice as the day before and, again following instructions, went to the ATM and began making deposits. A bystander who noticed the elderly woman’s unusual behavior at the ATM, which indicated that she was acting on telephone instructions, called the emergency number and notified the services. The duty officer immediately sent officers to the scene. A police patrol stopped the senior from depositing nearly PLN 50,000 and made the woman aware that she had fallen victim to fraudsters.
Bolesławiec police officers remind people not to give money to strangers, deposit it into indicated accounts, or use a provided BLIK code. They add: – “We should always exercise caution when dealing with strangers!”