Criminals are constantly refining their methods of extorting money. As the Komenda Powiatowa Policji w Lubinie warns, they are increasingly using video calls to make their story seem credible and convince victims that they are speaking with genuine officers or bank employees.

A Lubin resident fell victim to such a scam and lost nearly PLN 13,000.

According to the woman’s account, everything began with a call from a man claiming to be an employee of a loan company. The caller informed her that someone had supposedly submitted a loan application in her name. When she denied this, she was told that her personal data might have been leaked and that someone was trying to use it to extort money.

A short time later, another man contacted her, introducing himself as a bank employee. He claimed that the customer’s data had been stolen by an employee of one of the branches, and that the police and prosecutor’s office were already handling the case. To make his version of events seem credible, he sent the woman an email containing supposedly official documentation concerning the ongoing proceedings.

The manipulation did not end there.

The woman received the phone number of a person who was supposedly handling the case as a police officer. At the caller’s request, she connected with him via a video call through an online messenger. The man was wearing a navy-blue polo shirt bearing the word “Police,” introduced himself as an officer and confirmed the information previously provided by the alleged bank employee. He assured her that measures were being taken to secure the money belonging to the victim.

Convinced that she was cooperating with the bank and the police, the woman followed further instructions. She transferred funds between her own accounts and then, under time pressure and believing that she was opening a so-called technical account, gave the criminals BLIK codes.

Only when contact with the callers suddenly ceased and she could not reach any of the numbers again did she realize that she had fallen victim to a scam. As a result, she lost nearly PLN 13,000.

Police: officers do not conduct such conversations

The police in Lubin emphasize that criminals are increasingly using video calls, clothing resembling police uniforms, professional terminology and fake documents to gain their victims’ trust.

Officers remind the public that:

  • a police officer will never instruct anyone to transfer money to a so-called technical account,
  • the police do not conduct procedures through online messengers or confirm ongoing cases during video calls,
  • a bank employee will not ask for BLIK codes, login details or transfers to be made to secure funds,
  • if the caller applies time pressure or orders the person to keep the matter secret, the conversation should be ended immediately.

If there are any doubts, it is best to contact your bank independently using its official phone number or call the emergency number 112.

Police officers also appeal to people to share such warnings with family and friends. Growing public awareness means that more and more people recognize attempted scams, but criminals are constantly modifying their methods, counting on a moment of inattention and the trust of their victims.