When a click cost you: banks, courts and scams
If you clicked approve lost money, courts may still side with you. Rzecznik Finansowy flagged key rulings and practical steps.
The phrase clicked approve lost money captures a growing legal reality in Poland. Courts now probe whether a client truly understood and consented before blaming them for losses.
clicked approve lost money
On 22 September 2026 Rzecznik Finansowy published an analysis of final court rulings from 2023–2025. The review covered unauthorised transfers and so-called “click loans” where criminals persuaded victims to approve operations. Its conclusions change how banks must treat consumer complaints.
Why the distinction matters
Banks often assert that a correct login, password, SMS code or app confirmation proves consent. The ombudsman and courts disagree. They separate authentication from authorisation. Authentication is a technical check. Authorisation means the client knowingly agreed to a specific transfer or loan. A correct SMS code alone does not prove that someone wanted to lose money.
What courts look at
Judges examine what the victim actually saw and heard. They ask whether on-screen messages clearly named the recipient, amount and legal nature of the operation. They consider whether the scammer impersonated a bank, used short deadlines or created panic. They also weigh the client’s age and experience with online banking. Courts do not assume manipulation equals gross negligence automatically.
Credit scams and “click loans”
Cases where criminals arranged loans electronically proved especially sensitive. Judges stressed that a sequence of technical confirmations does not automatically form a conscious credit agreement. Courts assessed whether the client knew they were creating debt. If not, the bank should explain how its procedures prevented an unwilling contract.
Bank duties and timelines
Polish law expects prompt action. For unauthorised transactions banks must reimburse amounts with the D+1 rule. They should return funds no later than the end of the next business day after identifying the issue or after the client files a claim. Exceptions exist when the bank has documented grounds to suspect client fraud and alerts law enforcement. Separate deadlines apply to complaint replies: banks must answer in 15 business days. They may extend to 35 days in complex cases.
Do not wait months. The law allows a 13-month limit to file complaints after an account charge, but delayed action weakens your chance to recover money. If a bank rejects your complaint, demand a detailed justification. Check whether it relied only on technical authentication or whether it proved you gave conscious consent. You can ask Rzecznik Finansowy for intervention or turn to the courts.
Victims face a difficult path. The recent analysis does not promise automatic refunds. However, it rejects simplistic bank defences that rest solely on a logged code or a click. Banks must analyse unusual patterns, known fraud schemes and what the customer reasonably understood.
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