Scams using the “grandchild” or “police officer” method are particularly harmful crimes because their victims are most often older people. Police officers continually take action to arrest those involved in this practice and bring them to criminal justice. – Criminals cannot feel above the law – anyone who participates in this type of fraud must reckon with the consequences. Last week, Jelenia Góra criminal investigators arrested the second man suspected of involvement in crimes of this type – reports Sub-Inspector Edyta Bagrowska from the Municipal Police Headquarters in Jelenia Góra.
Criminal investigators arrested a 47-year-old resident of Jelenia Góra suspected of involvement in fraud and attempted fraud using the “police officer” method. The man collected money from a senior citizen from Jelenia Góra who had fallen victim to the criminal scheme, and also attempted to extort more money from another older person. He will now answer for his actions before a court and may face up to 8 years in prison.
The incidents took place on March 2 and 3, 2026, in Jelenia Góra. Police were notified of fraud against an 88-year-old city resident and an attempted fraud against a 94-year-old man. Officers’ findings indicate that the perpetrators acted according to a familiar scheme used in this type of crime.
How do the criminals operate?
An unknown caller telephoned the 88-year-old man’s landline and claimed to be an officer of the Central Police Investigation Bureau. He said he was conducting a secret operation targeting a criminal group planning to break into the senior’s apartment. To make his story credible, he instructed the man to call 997 or 112. In reality, the call was not disconnected, and the senior remained in contact with the fraudster the entire time.
The fake police officer convinced the 88-year-old that his money and valuables were at risk and had to be “secured” immediately for the purposes of the police operation. Spokesperson:
Believing that he was helping the officers, the man packed all his savings – approximately PLN 10,000 – into a shopping bag, following the caller’s instructions. He was kept convinced the entire time that he was taking part in a secret operation and could neither hang up nor inform anyone about the matter.
After some time, a man came to the senior’s apartment and collected the prepared bag of money. Only after the telephone conversation ended did the 88-year-old realize that he might have been scammed. He immediately contacted the emergency number 112, where it was confirmed that no such police operation had been conducted.
The case was taken up by officers of the Criminal Department of the Municipal Police Headquarters in Jelenia Góra. As a result of their operational activities, they identified and then arrested a person suspected of involvement in the crime. The 47-year-old resident of Jelenia Góra was arrested on the day another attempted fraud took place.
The arrested man has already been charged with involvement in fraud and attempted fraud. He was placed in police custody. On March 5 of this year, he was brought before the District Prosecutor’s Office in Jelenia Góra. The prosecutor imposed preventive measures in the form of police supervision and a ban on leaving the country. He faces up to 8 years in prison for the acts committed.
Police are currently clarifying all the circumstances of the case and checking whether the arrested man was involved in other similar crimes.
Police appeal to residents, particularly older people and their families, to exercise extreme caution. Criminals very often impersonate police officers, prosecutors or officers of other services in order to gain trust and create a sense of danger in the person they are speaking to.
Officers:
Reminder:
- The police never ask people to hand over money or valuables as part of their operations.
- Officers do not collect cash from citizens for the purpose of “securing” it.
- In the event of a suspicious telephone call, hang up immediately and then independently call the emergency number 112 or contact the nearest police station.
- Do not act under time pressure or provide strangers with information about your savings.
Police officers also appeal to seniors’ families to talk about the dangers associated with telephone scams: – Knowledge of criminals’ methods and mutual vigilance can protect older people from losing their life savings.
