Last Friday afternoon, Bolesławiec police received a report of a fraud in which an elderly woman was the victim. The criminals used the lawyer scam method, stealing the senior’s savings. Police headquarters:
A resident of Bolesławiec answered her landline and heard a crying woman. She immediately thought it was her daughter, who lives abroad. When she said the name of a family member, the caller confirmed that she was indeed that person.
Then another voice appeared on the line—the woman introduced herself as the daughter’s lawyer. The daughter had supposedly caused an accident and could be sent to prison.
The “lawyer” also asked whether the senior had another phone. When it turned out that the elderly woman had a mobile phone, the caller suggested that the further conversation be conducted on the second number, but... the call on the landline should also be continued.
Officers: – The alleged lawyer informed the senior that, in order to help her daughter, PLN 200,000 had to be paid. The victim replied that she did not have that amount, but had savings of more than PLN 40,000. She was then given instructions on packing the money and told who would come to collect it.
When the intercom rang, the 89-year-old woman heard that it was the lawyer’s employee and that she should open the door. A moment later, a man wearing sunglasses appeared outside her apartment, and the woman handed him the package.
Only later, when she called her other daughter to tell her what had happened, did she realize that she had been defrauded.
Police remind people of important safety rules:
- Do not keep large amounts of cash at home.
- Hang up when a phone conversation seems suspicious to you.
- Inform your immediate family members before deciding to hand money to a stranger.