A 15-year-old girl and three accomplices were arrested for attempting to scam a couple using the “policeman” method, with police preventing the loss of 70,000 złoty.
The Scam Operation
A 15-year-old and her three friends were arrested in connection with an attempted fraud using the “policeman” method. Officers from Warsaw’s Bemowo district determined that they acted together and in agreement, hearing a total of 15 charges.
The incident took place at the end of January this year. Police from Warsaw’s Bemowo district, upon learning that a couple who went to the bank would likely be scammed using the “policeman” method, immediately launched an operation that became more and more dynamic by the minute.
The “Policeman” Method
As determined by the police, everything started when a man identifying himself as a postal worker called the victim and informed him that a postman would come to deliver registered letters. A moment later, another man identifying himself as a policeman contacted the victim.
He in turn informed him that the person claiming to be a postal worker was a scammer and that he would be participating in a police operation. He explained that it was about securing his money due to criminal activities.
The Handover at the Church
The unsuspecting man and his wife gave the arriving courier their bank cards and followed instructions to withdraw cash at banks, which they were to give to another policeman at a designated place – a church.
At the location, they noticed a young woman to whom they handed a bag with envelopes prepared at the bank. At that moment, real police officers who had been observing the entire situation stepped in.
The Perpetrators
The “policewoman” turned out to be a 15-year-old who was on leave from a juvenile facility. The police actions prevented the victims from losing 70,000 złoty.
Police also arrested the partners of the 15-year-old – three adults aged 19, 57, and 69. It turned out that the perpetrators had withdrawn cash 14 times via bank cards in the amount of over 90,000 złoty.
Legal Consequences
All four were arrested. After gathering evidence, the suspects heard charges of attempted fraud and theft with burglary (a total of 15 charges). At the request of the prosecutor, by court decision, three suspects were temporarily arrested, facing a prison sentence of up to 10 years.
The juvenile will be dealt with by a family court.
How to Protect Yourself
Scammers have long been using our ignorance, playing on our emotions, and creating stories in which the timing of our decisions is very important. Under the influence of these manipulations, we stop thinking logically.
After receiving a call from someone impersonating a bank employee, we should end the call and contact our bank’s Security Department. During a phone call, we should not provide personal data, bank account details, or email address.
We should not carry out financial operations on impulse or give in to time pressure created by scammers. We should also avoid making BLIK transactions to unknown people or transfers to unknown bank accounts.
Remember! If anything makes you suspicious, hang up and call 112!
