Some time ago, the polish police force has launched an information campaign, warning the seniors and their families about a new fraud scheme designed to fool and robe the elderlies of their live-savings. The new fraud method is comely known as "on the policeman method". Unfortunately, despite the police's warnings the number of victims of this type of crime is still very high and is unlikely to be reduced any time soon.

Most recently, the earliest victim – a 64-year-old woman from Żor (small town in southern Poland), has lost her life-savings.

The elder woman was to receive a reward from the police for the assistance in apprehending the group of hackers, which was supposedly planning to commit a virtual bank robbery. The elderly was contacted by a fraudster who claimed to be an employee of the Central Police Investigation Bureau, The fake “officer” convinced the woman that in order to help the police she needs to withdraw all her life-savings from the bank account. The scammer claimed that the money will be safe and traceable because some of the banknotes will be replaced with the marked counterfeits, placed by the bank staff members.

As instructed by the fraudster, the old woman has withdrew over 50 000 zlotys (ca. 12 000 Euro) from the bank amount, placed the whole sum in to the envelope, and threw it into the trash bin, in a per-established place. As always, the scammer disappeared without a trace, and the unfortunate woman was left with nothing...

The police strongly advises to never engage in the conversation with strangers, “grandsons”, or “policemen”, especially if they ask for money or any form of assistance.