So far the police managed to detain six people in Mazowieckie province suspected of carrying out fraud, and confiscated computer equipment, including mobile phones used to commit the crimes, PLN 25,000 (EUR 5,810) in cash and small quantities of drugs in the form of cannabis and hashish.

According to Krzysztof Wrześniowski from the CBZC, the gang was very well organised.

“The foreigners were using false and forged documents as well as bank accounts in our country,” he said. “The perpetrators then made contact with their victims via the internet, drawing them into a psychological game by posing, for example, as an American soldier or veteran,” he added.

The victims “thought they were corresponding with people who were having an emotional crisis and needed financial assistance due to a difficult financial situation related, for example, to their children’s health problems,” Wrześniowski further stated.

In addition the scammers promised to come to Poland, make a life together with the victims and return the cash to them.

In reality, the defrauded people lost their savings and the fraudsters enriched themselves by transferring money to bank accounts in other countries.

The six suspects, aged between 26 and 30, have been charged with participation in an organised criminal group to defraud women in Poland and other European countries and face sentences of eight years’ in prison. Further arrests are possible.