Poland expands senior fraud‑prevention program and warns of online shop scams

On 2 June, the Ministry of Justice inaugurated the nationwide "Świadomy Senior – Bezpieczny Senior" programme at the Hewelianum Science Centre in Gdańsk. The initiative, coordinated with the Prime Minister’s Office, the police, NASK, the Social Insurance Institution, the Competition and Consumer Protection Office, the Patient Ombudsman and the National Notarial Council, aims to educate older adults on legal, financial, health and digital safety. Six thematic modules cover protection against scams (e.g., "grandparent" or "police" fraud), safe internet banking, management of assets such as wills and gifts, consumer‑rights issues, patient‑rights assistance and domestic‑violence awareness. The free programme will run in 15 voivodeships, extending a pilot that reached nearly 1 000 participants in Świętokrzyskie.

Separately, Poland’s Central Bureau of Cybercrime issued a consumer advisory about online‑shopping fraud. Criminals create fake e‑commerce sites that mimic reputable brands, often offering extreme discounts and pressuring quick purchases. Warning signs include missing firm data, absent tax identifiers, recent or absent reviews, odd domain spellings and reliance on external links. Scammers also deploy phishing SMS and counterfeit courier messages to steal payment credentials. Authorities recommend verifying sellers, using trusted payment methods, avoiding unsolicited links and relying on secure payment platforms to protect against loss of money and personal data.