A resident of Bolesławiec ordered eco-pea coal through a website and paid using BLIK. Despite the passage of time, the order was not fulfilled, and attempts to contact the company proved unsuccessful. The loss exceeded PLN 1,000.

Another victim was a resident of Bolesławiec commune who ordered 5 tonnes of eco-pea coal. She was misled and lost nearly PLN 6,000.
A further report concerns a resident of Nowogrodziec commune who ordered 1 tonne of heating fuel, paying PLN 1,150.

What the police say

Police officers urge caution when buying heating fuel online and remind people of the basic rules for safe transactions. They point out that scammers often create professional-looking websites that disappear from the internet after receiving payment. Therefore, it is worth maintaining healthy scepticism and not trusting “bargain prices” that suddenly appear online.

Important rules before payment

  • Check the website’s credibility: pay attention to the web address, other users’ reviews and the seller’s contact details.
  • Check whether the domain inspires trust and whether the website contains up-to-date contact information.
  • Do not focus solely on the low price: if an offer seems too good, it may be a sign of fraud.
  • Avoid advance payments to unknown bank accounts: use secure payment methods that allow you to pursue claims.
  • Use trusted heating fuel suppliers: choose known and recommended sellers, especially if the transaction involves a large amount of money.
  • Keep documents and confirmations: collect correspondence, proof of payment and the content of advertisements – they may be helpful in pursuing claims later.

What to do if you suspect fraud?

  • Immediately contact your bank/payment institution to block the transaction or report the abuse.
  • Report the matter to the Police or the appropriate centre dealing with online fraud.
  • Keep all evidence: screenshots of advertisements, correspondence with the seller, the transaction number and payment confirmations.

Scammers offering attractive heating fuel prices online exploit buyers’ haste and trust. Reports from residents of Bolesławiec and the surrounding area show that it is not worth taking the risk. The warning is simple: check, verify and do not pay before receiving the actual goods. In this way, we can work together to reduce the scale of fraud in the local heating fuel market.