Hear Your Child’s Voice? It May Be a Scam

19 March 2026 Poland Radar 0 Comments

Poland’s BIK warns of a new deepfake voice scam that clones relatives’ voices to demand money. Stay alert and verify callers.

Poland’s credit information bureau BIK and national police issued a joint warning about a new threat. If you hear your child’s voice on the phone, it may be a deepfake voice scam.

Table of Contents

How the deepfake voice scam works

Scammers use artificial intelligence to clone a family member’s voice from short audio samples. Consequently, the caller can sound startlingly authentic. Moreover, fraudsters also spoof caller ID numbers. Therefore, your phone may display a real relative’s number. However, criminals usually pressure you to act fast. In addition, they ask for transfers or cash drops to untraceable accounts.

Examples and local reports

BIK and police reported several recent incidents in Warsaw and other Polish cities. Moreover, victims said the voice sounded identical to their child or grandchild. Consequently, families transferred large sums before verifying the call. However, officials warn that criminals adapt quickly. In addition, the scams sometimes include a forged SMS or an email for credibility.

Signs to watch for and quick steps

Listen for pressure to act immediately. Also, watch for requests for unusual payment methods. For example, criminals often ask for money to pay a fine or hospital bill. Therefore, ask specific personal questions your child could only answer. However, do not rely on caller ID alone. Consequently, call the relative back on a saved number. In addition, contact the bank and freeze payments if needed.

Why foreigners living in Poland must care

Expats may face extra hurdles when targeted. Moreover, they often use Polish services and numbers tied to local accounts. Therefore, fraud can hit accounts linked to ZUS (social insurance), NFZ (national health fund), or local banks. Also, many expats hold official Polish identifiers like PESEL (national ID number). Consequently, a successful scam can complicate residency, property, or work matters. In addition, language barriers may delay quick verification with family or institutions.

💡 GOOD TO KNOW: If you live in Poland, always verify urgent money requests by calling a known number. Moreover, remember that institutions like ZUS (social insurance) and NFZ (health fund) will never call you to demand immediate transfers. Therefore, treat any urgent financial plea with extreme caution. Also, if you receive threats or sudden claims of a missing relative, contact the local police and block suspicious payments. Finally, keep a list of trusted numbers and consider a two-step verification routine for bank operations.

What authorities recommend next

Police urge citizens to preserve evidence, such as call logs and audio. Moreover, report all incidents to your bank and to the police promptly. Therefore, file a complaint if you lost money. In addition, notify BIK about suspicious identity misuse. Also, consider alerting neighbours and community groups to spread awareness quickly.

Scammers now combine voice cloning with social engineering. Consequently, the risk of convincing impostors grows. However, simple verification steps can stop most attacks. Therefore, remain skeptical of urgent money demands, and always double-check the caller.

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