Warsaw police arrested a 19-year-old man in Żyrardów suspected of swindling over 71,000 złoty from a woman by falsely claiming to be a police officer.
Fraudulent Operation Claimed
Police from the Property Crime Division in Warsaw’s Wola district identified and apprehended a 19-year-old man in Żyrardów, suspected of fraud. The suspect impersonated a police officer and deceived the victim into believing a police operation was underway to arrest bank fraudsters.
The perpetrator informed the woman that she might be a victim of a crime, alleging bank employees were collaborating with criminals to steal her money and that a duplicate of her payment card existed. He claimed police were conducting a special operation and he would secure her account, requesting her assistance in apprehending the dishonest bank employees.
Victim Alerts Authorities
Convinced she was participating in a police operation, the woman handed over two payment cards and her PIN according to the suspect’s instructions. Once she realized she had been deceived by a fake police officer, she immediately alerted the real police and reported the fraud.
Arrest and Charges
Police initiated an investigation, gathering evidence and conducting reconnaissance. This led to the identification of the suspect, a 19-year-old Ukrainian citizen, who was arrested in Żyrardów.
The suspect has been charged with fraud, and following a request from the Warsaw-Wola District Prosecutor’s Office, a court ordered his temporary arrest for three months. He faces up to eight years in prison if convicted.
Police Issue Warning
Police emphasize they never provide information about ongoing operations by phone, nor do they request money transfers or funds to “secure” assets. Individuals should immediately end the call and contact family or dial the emergency number 112 if a caller claiming to be a police officer requests money or financial actions.