The police detained fake bankers. They robbed many Poles

The criminals called random people all over Poland. During the telephone conversation, they pretended to be employees of well-known financial institutions. They used strong time pressure and simple manipulation techniques. They informed the victim that his savings were in great danger due to a hacker attack. The only solution was to be a quick transfer to a supposedly completely safe account. Terrified of losing their funds, people followed the fraudsters’ instructions.

In this way, several dozen people from all over the country lost a total of over PLN 1.5 million. The victims deposited money directly into the provided account numbers or used cash deposit machines. These crimes occurred between January and June 2024. Police officers from the Central Bureau for Combating Cybercrime quickly found the trail of the gang. They realized that they were dealing with a very well-organized operation.

The defrauded people deposited funds into accounts belonging to so-called scammers. These were people previously recruited via the Internet. Criminals posted false job advertisements on social media. They offered a quick profit for providing their own bank account for settlements. Such people are called financial mules in police jargon.

Immediately after the victim’s transfer was recorded, other members of the group jumped into action. These were the so-called selectors. Their task was to instantly withdraw cash from ATMs. The same money was then used to purchase cryptocurrencies. This process was intended to conceal the origin of the stolen funds. Money mules and pickers kept only a small percentage of the total amount for themselves as remuneration.

The investigation in this case is supervised by the District Prosecutor’s Office in Katowice. So far, the police have arrested a total of 40 people involved in this practice. The evidence collected was so strong that 60 people have been criminally charged to date. The suspects will be charged with money laundering, fraud and participation in an organized criminal group.

Last week, CBZC officers from the management board in Katowice arrested two more men. They were charged with money laundering. The services emphasize that the perpetrators are mainly foreigners of Ukrainian origin. The group operated in many provinces. Criminal activity was recorded in Silesia, Mazovia, Lower Silesia, as well as in the Łódź, Greater Poland and Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeships.

The police appeal to all citizens to be careful. Telephone conversations with alleged bank employees should be treated with great caution. A real bank employee will never ask you to transfer funds to another account to protect them. If you have any doubts, hang up immediately and call your bank’s official hotline yourself.