Police impersonation fraudster detained on A2 motorway after extorting over 50,000 zlotys
Criminal investigators from Lublin have detained a 42-year-old man who extorted over 50,000 zlotys from a Lublin resident by impersonating a police officer. The man was driving despite a court-imposed driving ban.
Arrest of fraudster after extorting over 50,000 zlotys
Police in Lublin detained a 42-year-old man on the A2 motorway in Pruszków County, several hours after he participated in a police impersonation fraud scheme. According to lublin.policja.gov.pl, the man, a resident of Opole Voivodeship, extorted over 50,000 zlotys in various currencies from a Lublin resident. Police officers discovered the money that had been taken in his car, along with five mobile phones.
The fraud took place in the evening when a person claiming to be a police officer called a senior citizen. The caller informed the woman about investigating a group of fraudsters and asked her to help catch the perpetrators. The senior citizen agreed to participate in the police operation. The fraudster persuaded her to pack her savings and hand them over to a "police officer" who was supposed to collect them. The woman handed over the money, and then realised she had become a victim of fraud and reported the matter to police.
The detained man was charged with participation in fraud. It also emerged that he was driving a Volkswagen despite a court-imposed driving ban issued by the court. The court applied a three-month pre-trial detention order. He faces up to eight years' imprisonment for participation in fraud.
Police officers from the Municipal Police Headquarters in Lublin and the Criminal Bureau of the National Police Headquarters supported the operational activities. Police urge caution and remind the public that criminals impersonate police officers, family members or employees of institutions to lend credibility to their activities. Fraudsters inform victims of accidents involving loved ones, arrests, or the need for rapid financial assistance.
Police emphasise that they never inform the public about their activities through third parties, do not use their money, and do not request participation in operations. If there are suspicions of such calls, one should immediately contact police on the emergency number 112 or go to the nearest police unit.
Source: Google News PL — Crime (pl)