A resident of the county contacted the District Police Headquarters in Lwówek Śląski and reported that he had fallen victim to a scam. According to the victim, a man claiming to be a bank employee called him in recent days. The alleged consultant informed him that someone had tried to take out a loan using his personal details and that the funds accumulated in his account were at risk.

The fake bank employee instructed the man to “secure” the money by depositing all his savings—both those held in the account and those in cash—into a cash deposit machine, providing him with BLIK codes. The fraudster assured him that this was safe and that the money would be returned to the customer’s account by the following day at the latest.

When the funds had not appeared in his account after 24 hours, the resident contacted the bank to clarify the situation. He then learned that the consultant had not carried out any operations on his account and that the story about the money being at risk was false. The helpline employees informed him that he had most likely fallen victim to a scam and should report the matter to the Police.

As a result of the criminal actions of an unknown perpetrator, the man lost over PLN 37,000.

The Police are appealing for particular caution in telephone contacts! We remind you:

  • bank employees never ask you to transfer money to a “secure account”,
  • they do not tell you to install additional applications or provide login details,
  • if in doubt, always hang up and call the bank’s official helpline yourself.

If you receive a suspicious phone call or SMS concerning your finances, remain vigilant. Do not hastily follow the caller’s instructions. Always contact your bank or the nearest Police unit. Remember: your caution can prevent the loss of your life savings.

Unfortunately, the holiday season is an excellent opportunity for fraudsters. They exploit our distraction connected with the pre-Christmas rush, our busyness and the burden of our responsibilities. This is when it is easiest to make a mistake or decisions we may later regret. Let us not be deceived.