Poland faces rise in impersonation and contactless payment scams

Criminals in Poland are employing sophisticated impersonation tactics to defraud citizens through phone calls and public transport systems.

In recent telephone scams, fraudsters pose as bank employees, police officers, or prosecutors to convince victims that their funds are at risk. One victim in the Iława district lost 48,000 PLN after being instructed to deposit money via BLIK codes, while a resident of Lubin lost 13,000 PLN following a video call with a man wearing a fake police shirt. These criminals often use fake documents and coordinated calls to build credibility.

Additionally, a new method targets passengers using contactless payment systems in cities such as Wrocław, Łódź, Bydgoszcz, and the Tricity area. Scammers pose as ticket inspectors and use disguised payment terminals to perform unauthorized contactless transactions when passengers attempt to validate their tickets. The Financial Ombudsman has noted that such transactions may be considered unauthorized, meaning banks may be obligated to refund the stolen amounts.