Polish services arrest 12 in mobile-payment fraud investigation

Polish services reported on October 12 that 12 people had been arrested in an investigation into rapid mobile-payment fraud. RMF FM says two Russian nationals are among the suspects.

The operation involved the Central Police Investigation Bureau, the Central Cybercrime Bureau and the Internal Security Agency. The investigation is supervised by district prosecutors in Siedlce.

Investigators allege that group members impersonated bank and online marketplace employees to obtain one-time payment codes. RMF FM reports that the group operated for about two years, mainly in Warsaw, Lodz and Bialystok, and allegedly stole at least several million zlotys.

Services seized Polish and foreign currency, jewellery and vehicles worth more than 850 thousand zlotys. This represents the value of seized property, rather than a final assessment of losses.

According to RMF FM, the suspects comprise four men and eight women aged 21 to 57: two Russians, one Ukrainian and nine Poles. Seven were remanded in custody, while the others are under police supervision. The alleged offences carry a maximum sentence of 12 years.

The broadcaster also reported database warnings about possible contacts between the two Russians and terrorist organisations. Those reports do not establish involvement in terrorism or replace a court ruling in the fraud case.