Phone scams siphon millions from Polish seniors

Police in Poland warn that organized phone fraud targeting elderly citizens has resulted in substantial losses. In the Tarnów region, seniors handed over a total of 1.5 million zł in the past 1.5 years, including a 62‑year‑old resident who transferred 350 000 zł after being convinced she was helping a relative. The criminals posed as a lawyer and used emotional appeals linked to a fatal accident.

In Ostrołęka, a 73‑year‑old woman was nearly defrauded of almost 30 000 zł after a caller pretended to be a bank consultant and then a police officer, urging her to move money to a so‑called “technical account.” Bank staff recognized the suspicious transaction and blocked it, preventing any loss. Authorities advise anyone receiving unsolicited requests for money to end the call, verify the request through official channels, and report the incident to police.