How to Avoid the Most Common Financial Scams

Scale of the Problem

In 2024, Poles lost over 1 billion PLN to financial scams. Cybercriminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated — they use AI to generate deepfakes, clone bank websites, and impersonate well-known people. Knowledge is your best protection.

Most Common Types of Scams

1. Phishing — Fake Messages

The scammer impersonates a bank, tax office, or courier company and sends SMS, email, or message with a link to a fake website.

How to recognize:

• Sender's address differs from official (e.g., bank-pkobp.xyz instead of pkobp.pl)
• Time pressure: "Your account will be blocked within 24h"
• Request for login, password, or BLIK code
• Language errors (though increasingly rare thanks to AI)

How to protect yourself:

• Never click links from SMS/email — type bank address manually
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA)
• Check SSL certificate (lock icon in address bar)

2. Fake Investment Platforms

Websites promising huge profits from cryptocurrency trading, forex, or binary options. Often use celebrity images (deepfake).

Warning signs:

• Guaranteed profit of 20–50% monthly
• "Exclusive opportunity", "only today", "limited spots"
• Request to install remote desktop software (AnyDesk, TeamViewer)
• Consultant calls and pressures to deposit
• No KNF license

Rule: If it sounds too good to be true — it's not true.

3. Financial Pyramids and Ponzi Schemes

Company promises steady, high returns, but actually pays "profits" from new participants' deposits.

Examples from Poland:

• Amber Gold — promised 6–16% profit, client loss: 850 million PLN
• GetBack — corporate bonds sold as "safe as deposits"
• Finroyal — forex platform, pyramid

How to recognize a pyramid:

• No clear profit source (how does the company make money?)
• Pressure to recruit new participants
• Lack of regulation and licenses
• Difficult withdrawals

4. "Grandchild" / "Police Officer" Scam

Caller impersonates family member or police officer and asks for money transfer or BLIK codes.

Rule: Hang up and call back on known number. Real police never ask for transfers.

5. Fake Online Stores

Store offers products at unrealistically low prices, takes payment and doesn't send goods.

How to verify:

• Search for store opinion + "scam"
• Check company data in KRS/CEIDG
• Lack of regulations and contact details is a red flag

How to Protect Yourself — Universal Rules

1. Check licenses — every investment company in Poland must have KNF license. Check at knf.gov.pl
2. KNF warning list — KNF publishes list of entities without licenses
3. Don't share codes — bank, police, or courier never ask for BLIK code, PIN, or password
4. Diversify — don't keep all savings in one place
5. Educate loved ones — elderly people are particularly vulnerable
6. Update software — patch security gaps in phone and computer
7. Use password manager — unique, strong password for each service

What to Do When You Fall Victim?

1. Immediately call your bank — block account and card
2. Report to police — collect evidence (screenshots, emails)
3. Report to CERT Polska — incydenty.cert.pl
4. Change passwords — to all related accounts
5. Warn loved ones — scammers may try to contact them

How Freenance Can Help

Freenance helps maintain control over your finances — you see all your accounts, expenses, and investments in one place. Unusual transaction? You'll notice it immediately. Awareness of what's happening with your money is the best protection against scammers.

👉 Take control of your finances with Freenance — freenance.io