UOKiK and Police Publish List of Numbers Used by Scammers

The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection and the police are renewing warnings about the growing number of sophisticated telephone scams. Criminals, using the technique of spoofing, impersonate representatives of banks, tax offices, ZUS, telecommunications operators, and even the police. Their goal is to extort confidential data, passwords, BLIK authorization codes, or force the victim to make a transfer to the scammers' account. The authorities are publishing an updated list of numbers from which such attempts are most often made, although they emphasize that due to spoofing, this list is indicative and changes dynamically. The phenomenon of large-scale telephone fraud emerged in Poland with the popularization of mobile telephony in the 1990s, but in the last decade, with the development of VoIP technology and easy access to spoofing services, it has taken on the character of organized, international crime. A typical attack scenario begins with a phone call where the display shows a number resembling that of a bank or government office. The scammer, using a prepared script and often possessing preliminary victim data (first name, surname, bank name), informs about an alleged attempted account breach, unauthorized transfer, or the urgent need for identity verification due to suspected abuse. To distract and create pressure, they may claim to be a 'CBŚ officer' or 'security department employee.' They then urge the victim to install remote access to a computer (e.g., under the pretext of 'blocking a transfer') or to provide a verification code from an SMS, which is actually a code authorizing a transfer from the victim's account. ponad 50 — Phone numbers on the current 'blacklist' published by UOKiK Cybersecurity experts emphasize that a key safety principle is awareness that no legally operating financial institution or government office EVER asks over the phone for full account passwords, card PINs, or one-time codes from SMS or mobile apps. If the caller exerts excessive pressure, threatens account blocking, or penalties, it is a sure sign of a scam attempt. In such a situation, one should calmly hang up and then independently call the official helpline number of the institution, listed on its website or on the back of the payment card, to verify the information. The police also appeal not to download any apps suggested by callers and to immediately block payment cards if confidential data has been disclosed. prawda: The spoofing technique allows scammers to display any falsified number on the victim's phone, including bank or government institution helpline numbers. Therefore, the mere presence of an 'official' number on the display does not guarantee the authenticity of the call. (Policja, UOKiK) Victims of fraud should report the matter to the police as soon as possible and contact their bank to secure funds. UOKiK is also running an educational campaign, reminding that by law, consumers have 14 days to withdraw from a distance contract, which can be helpful in case of being pressured into buying, for example, unnecessary insurance. Specialists also recommend regularly updating phone software and carefully checking numbers when calling back 'institutions.' Remember that fear and haste are the main allies of scammers.