Two men and two women were apprehended by the officers. They played key roles in the group, being responsible for withdrawing cash. They took it from ATMs using BLIK codes obtained through fraud. By court decision, three of the suspects have already been temporarily detained, and they may face up to eight years in prison.
The people detained by the police played an extremely important role in the criminal structures because they were directly responsible for withdrawing money from ATMs. They acted using illegally obtained codes and the BLIK method. This refers to fast mobile payments that enable money to be withdrawn without using a payment card.
Findings by officers from the Wałbrzych Police confirm that the criminal group offered people online the opportunity to participate in highly profitable investments, mainly in cryptocurrencies and other allegedly lucrative projects, including oil and gold. Misled by promises of quick and substantial returns, the victims handed over their data and BLIK codes to the scammers, believing that the funds were being transferred to investment accounts. In reality, the money was immediately withdrawn by the criminals from ATMs.
A considerable number of fraud cases had one element in common: the withdrawals were made from the same ATM in a shopping centre in Wałbrzych. This fact enabled the police to link several cases and begin extensive operations aimed at identifying the group. Ultimately, these efforts led to the detention of four people: two men, aged 29 and 37, and two women, aged 25 and 28, from Bolesławiec and Zgorzelec counties.
Their images appeared in many cases involving this type of fraud. The police seized several portable and desktop computers, more than a dozen mobile phones, and over PLN 17,000 in cash.
Further actions by the officers confirmed that these people were cooperating as part of an organized criminal group. With this knowledge, the prosecutor applied for the detention of three of those arrested, and by court decision they will spend the next three months in custody. The case is developing, and further arrests cannot be ruled out. A detailed analysis of the seized evidence is currently under way and may provide new information about the scale of the group’s activities and the number of victims.
BLIK and cryptocurrency fraud are becoming increasingly common, with criminals exploiting their victims’ lack of knowledge and caution. For this reason, the Police and financial institutions continually urge people to exercise caution when making online transactions and to verify investment offers, especially when quick and high returns are promised.