Doctor impersonation scams: 47-year-old arrested in Lublin

3 July 2026 Poland Radar 0 Comments

Police arrested a 47-year-old linked to doctor impersonation scams targeting elderly in Lublin. Learn what happened and why expats should stay alert.

Lead: Police in Lublin arrested a 47-year-old suspected organiser in doctor impersonation scams that targeted elderly residents. Consequently, investigators say the fraud cost victims tens of thousands of złoty.

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Doctor impersonation scams in Lublin

Police reported that frauds occurred in February. Moreover, scammers called elderly women and pretended to be doctors. They claimed a family member needed urgent and expensive treatment. Therefore, they asked for immediate cash transfers or handovers.

Two manipulated pensioners handed over money. One gave 17,000 zł and another gave 18,000 zł. In addition, police traced the cash to two collectors who received the funds.

How investigators followed the trail

The municipal police unit in Lublin led the probe. Consequently, they identified two people who collected money. However, they did not stop there. The evidence then pointed to a 47-year-old woman who organised the scheme.

Officers arrested her in Krakow. Moreover, she faced two active arrest warrants. In addition, courts had already sentenced her to 2.5 years for earlier crimes. As a result, detectives linked her to similar frauds in Kielce in April.

Police now attribute losses of 175,000 zł to the group. Furthermore, the arrested woman faces five fraud charges. The prosecutor brought her to court and the judge ordered three months of pre-trial detention. Therefore, she now awaits trial and faces up to eight years in prison if convicted.

Why this matters for expats

Scammers prey on trust and confusion. Moreover, they use familiar roles like doctors or police to deceive victims. In Poland, people often trust calls that appear urgent. Consequently, elderly residents can react quickly and transfer money without checking facts.

Expats should note local specifics. For example, ZUS (the social insurance institution) and NFZ (the public health fund) rarely request cash payments by phone. In addition, no legitimate hospital asks for instant household cash. Also avoid sharing PESEL (national ID) numbers over the phone.

💡 GOOD TO KNOW: If you or an elderly neighbour get a call asking for money, stop the conversation. Call family directly and confirm. Contact your bank to block transfers. Report the call to the police at 112 or local stations. Remember that ZUS handles pensions and benefits, while NFZ manages public healthcare. Do not hand cash to unknown couriers or so-called “collectors”. They often work for fraud rings.

Police urge everyone to be cautious. Moreover, they recommend verifying any medical emergency with relatives. In addition, banks can assist with reversing suspicious transfers in some cases. However, speed matters. Report fraud quickly to improve recovery chances.

The case underscores organised crime methods in Poland. Consequently, authorities pursue not only collectors but also the network organisers. Therefore, residents and expats should remain alert and share warnings with older relatives and neighbours.

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