Telephone and Banking Fraud in Poland: Clients Lose Hundreds of Thousands of Zloty

The final days of February 2026 saw a sharp increase in reports of sophisticated financial fraud methods. Criminals are increasingly using social engineering, impersonating trusted institutions. In one of the most severe cases, a resident of Pomerania lost over 200,000 PLN after a conversation with a purported bank employee who persuaded her to transfer funds to a "secure account." Similar incidents have been recorded in other parts of the country, where the total losses exceeded 350,000 PLN. Scammers are also using the 'road toll error' method, sending SMS messages with links leading to fake payment panels. The central bank institution and financial supervision systems in Poland have developed rigorous security procedures; however, the weakest link remains the human factor, which criminals exploit through emotional manipulation. Simultaneously, police report successes in rescue operations that prevented numerous tragedies. In Szczecin and Koszalin, thanks to the quick reaction of witnesses and municipal workers, the lives of elderly people in life-threatening situations were saved. Services also intervened in cases of house fires and disappearances, where the use of modern search equipment proved crucial. In Lower Silesia, the "Senior with a 6+" program was launched, aimed at educating the oldest citizens about protection against scams like the 'grandson' or 'policeman' method. The situation in the cybersecurity area remains tense, however. Bank Pekao S.A. issued an urgent warning about malicious attachments in email messages, which can be used to steal login credentials. Experts indicate that criminals are constantly modifying their techniques, introducing, among others, scams related to the BLIK system and fake remote job offers. Police appeal for limited trust in unknown phone numbers and careful verification of URLs in received messages, as one mistake can lead to a complete emptying of a bank account. „Prosimy o zachowanie szczególnej ostrożności i weryfikowanie każdej prośby o przekazanie pieniędzy, nawet jeśli osoba dzwoniąca podaje się za funkcjonariusza lub pracownika banku.” (We ask for particular caution and verification of every request to transfer money, even if the caller claims to be an officer or bank employee.) — Police Spokesperson