On 26 October, a 71‑year‑old man from Opole County was duped by a fake advertisement featuring Poland’s president, causing him to lose 20,000 PLN from his bank account.
Scam uses image of Polish president
A public prosecutor’s office in Opole County reported that a fake advertisement displayed on the internet showed a portrait of Poland’s president, promising quick investments with no risk, and the 71‑year‑old man entered his personal data and phone number into the form.
Fake advisors gain bank access
Later that day, a woman claiming to be a financial advisor convinced the man of her assistance and requested his bank login details; he installed AnyDesk on his phone, giving the fraudster remote access to his banking account.
Loss escalates to 20,000 PLN
After initially investing 800 PLN, the man was pressured to increase the amount and transferred an additional 20,000 PLN; he attempted to cancel the transaction the next day, but the fraudulent advisor stopped responding.
Authorities issue warning
Prosecutors urge caution when investing and advise against installing unfamiliar software or sharing banking credentials with unknown persons, while the Ministry of Digitization warns that such scams often use public figures’ likenesses to attract trust, noting a surge in fraudulent investment sites in 2024.
