History from Krakow shows how ruthless cheaters prey on the confidence of older people. 81-year-old resident of the city lost nearly PLN 850 000, falling victim to a sophisticated scheme of fraud under the pretext of investing in Crypto. It all started with innocent advertising on the Internet – the woman clicked the link, filled out the contact details form, and soon the alleged "financial analysts" contacted her. They promised huge profits from trading in digital currencies, convincing them to make further contributions.
The victim donated money in instalments: some through bank transfers to indicated accounts, and the rest directly to couriers who took cash personally. The investments proved to be a fiction – false transactions on cryptocurrency stock exchanges were only used to extort funds. When the woman realized she was being deceived, she reported the case to the police on 11 December.
Officers from the Department for Combating Economic Crime of the Municipal Police Headquarters in Krakow quickly gathered evidence and determined the identity of the perpetrators. On 15 December two men from the Silesian Voivodeship were detained: 55-year-old and his 66-year-old partner. Mobile phones, confirmation of payments from cryptocurrency exchanges and PLN 10 000 in cash were secured during searches at their premises.
Suspects heard allegations of fraud and were transported to Krakow for further trial proceedings. The District Prosecutor's Office in Krakow-Krowodrzy applied preventive measures to them in the form of police supervision and bail. They are facing up to eight years in prison for their crimes.
This case is another alarm for all those investing in Crypto: Police call for caution against offers of quick profits and verification of investment platforms. Were the cheaters in a larger group? The investigation continues, and the victim struggles to recover the money.
Source: Małopolska Police
