Common scams, warning signs and what to do when someone tries to cheat you.
In 2025, Americans reported a record $15.9 billion in fraud losses, highlighting the importance of verifying official sources and avoiding scams targeting immigrants.
A quarter of a million computer fraud incidents in 2025 according to CERT Polska; current schemes and your rights include a refund for unauthorized transactions by the end of the next business day (art. 46), the burden of proof on the bank (art. 45), 13 months to report, free Financial Ombudsman service, number 8080, and PESEL and card blocking.
Nearly 160 million PLN lost in 2025 and new methods: video calls with a fake 'police officer' (police warning from July 21, 2026) and AI voice cloning. Security measures can be set up remotely: blocking PESEL, bank limits, family BIK alerts, family password – and what to do minute by minute when it happens.
Record sales of retail bonds and EDO 5.35% in the first year – but non-residents must make their first purchase in person, and online registration requires a Polish bank account. How to buy from abroad, what to do with IKE/IKZE and OIPE after emigration, taxes (0% at source for US residents), PFIC/FBAR traps, and false '12% bonds'.
Learn how to quickly verify if a website, company, lawyer, official, or 'new law' is legitimate: rules for .gov.pl domains (and important exceptions), the Journal of Laws and ISAP, the VAT white list, KRS and CEIDG, registers of lawyers and notaries, the KNF and CERT Poland warning lists, documented scams targeting the Polish diaspora (fake inheritance, paid consular intermediaries), and a 60-second checklist.
A practical guide for assisting family in Poland from abroad, covering the cheapest money transfers, tax-free donations (SD-Z2, bank transfers instead of cash), bank power of attorney instead of passwords, grocery deliveries, e-prescriptions via IKP, online medication reservations, and anti-fraud measures: blocking PESEL, limits, and family passwords.
How to hire a renovation crew and avoid being scammed: contract and deposit, 14 or 30 days to withdraw from a contract signed at home, warranty for work, completion of renovation at the contractor's expense, VAT 8%, thermomodernization relief, Clean Air program, and free assistance. Status as of October 2026.
Learn how card skimming thieves operate, the methods they use, and how you can protect yourself from data theft; understanding the threats is the first step to safer card usage.
Learn how to effectively freeze your credit report with the three major credit bureaus in the USA, making identity theft protection easier than ever!
Identity theft is a serious issue that can affect anyone; learn how to respond if someone uses your SSN to secure your finances and regain control over your identity.
Learn how to quickly and effectively respond if your bank account has been hacked; this step-by-step guide will help you secure your finances and regain control.
A window displaying a 'Microsoft technical support' number is always a scam; we explain the Phantom Hacker scheme, refund scams, cash and gold couriers, and the step-by-step actions to take if someone gained remote access to your computer or if money has already been sent.
What families can do in advance: conversation and simple rules, a trusted person for the account (FINRA 4512), reasonable power of attorney, call blocking, credit freeze, along with warning signs, action plan in case of suspected fraud, and where to report it.
No legitimate entity asks for payment via gift cards; learn about scams involving Apple and prepaid cards, why criminals favor them, and what to do immediately if you've shared a code: contact the card issuer, keep the card and receipt, report to the FTC.
An SMS about an 'unpaid toll' with a payment link is a widespread scam warned against by the FBI, FTC, and toll agencies; this article explains how real toll bills are issued, how to identify a fake, where to check your balance, and what to do if you've already clicked or paid.
USPS-related SMS scams are one of the most common forms of phishing in the USA; learn how to identify fake messages, secure your data, and safely verify package statuses.
How to identify fake emails and SMS in the USA: signals according to the FTC and CISA, reading website addresses, typical SMS about packages, toll fees, and bank alerts, QR codes. A flowchart on what to do after clicking and where to report: reportphishing@apwg.org, 7726, ReportFraud.ftc.gov, IC3.
Learn how to identify rental scams in the USA, recognize fake listings, deposit traps, and other threats to protect your money.
Scams involving fake employers are becoming increasingly common, especially among new immigrants. Learn how to recognize and avoid traps related to fake job offers and what to do in case of a scam.
Learn how to identify fake immigration lawyers and avoid scams related to documents and Green Cards, including how to verify lawyers and report abuses.
Learn how Ponzi schemes and pyramids operate and discover the warning signs that can help you avoid financial fraud, especially within immigrant communities.
A step-by-step guide on what data to collect, when to search in FINRA BrokerCheck, when to use SEC IAPD, how to read the Disclosures section, and what Form CRS, SALI, state regulators, CFP Board search, and state insurance agent registries provide, along with a registry selection flowchart.
Investment clubs on WhatsApp or Telegram, often promoted through ads or unsolicited messages, are rapidly growing scams in the U.S., involving ramp-and-dump schemes and fake platforms.
Fake exchanges and apps, 'taxes' for withdrawals, scammers 'recovering' crypto, and irreversible transfers. We show how to check an exchange in FinCEN, NMLS, and the ESMA register, what the Polish virtual currency register means, and what to do after a loss.
A brief, practical plan for families regarding a faked voice: how to establish a family password in minutes (FBI recommendation), why to always call back to a saved number (FTC), which payments reveal a scammer, and what technology can and cannot do. A printable note to keep by the phone.
An overview of how the grandparent scam operates in the USA today, involving arrests after accidents, fake lawyers and bail agents at the door, couriers collecting cash and gold bars, and what to do if money has already been sent.
Understand how Zelle scams work and why banks rarely refund victims' money. Learn how scammers manipulate victims into voluntarily sending money.
Learn how to avoid scams on Facebook Marketplace by understanding common scams such as fake deposits, shipping scams, and more to protect your money.
Learn how to identify scammers impersonating Social Security Administration employees, recognize warning signs, and protect yourself from phone scams.
Learn about the scams that most often affect the Polish community in the USA. Read our guide to avoid traps related to fake immigration services, investment market fraud, and other threats.
Learn how to protect your finances from investment fraud with a practical checklist to help you verify investments and avoid losses.
Why the promise of high returns 'without risk' is a typical sign of fraud, how true guarantees (FDIC, EE bonds) differ from a seller's word, how to check an advisor on Investor.gov and BrokerCheck (and in Poland on KNF), and what to do if your money is already gone.
The IRS usually starts with a letter, does not demand gift cards or wire transfers, and does not threaten deportation; learn how to verify a letter and a collection agency, recognize a legitimate visit, understand the purpose of the IP PIN, and where to report fraud: TIGTA 800-366-4484, phishing@irs.gov.
Learn how to identify phone scams impersonating Social Security, understand the scammers' techniques, and how to protect yourself from their threats.
Medicare scams are becoming increasingly common. Learn how to recognize and avoid the most frequent traps, such as Medicare card phishing, fake medical equipment offers, and dishonest agent practices.
Learn how to effectively use FINRA BrokerCheck to verify the credibility of brokers and investment firms, with a step-by-step guide to help you avoid scams and make informed financial decisions.
Learn how to step-by-step verify the legitimacy of a financial advisor in the USA by checking their licenses, complaint history, and qualifications to make an informed decision.
Guaranteed profit, urgency, request for discretion, 'SEC certificate,' and initials after the name. Learn how to identify a fake or dishonest financial advisor in the USA, what 'fiduciary' really means, and what questions to ask before signing a contract.
Learn how Ponzi schemes operate, their characteristic features, and how to protect yourself from them, along with historical examples and warning signs that can help avoid fraud.
Romance scams pose a serious threat to older adults who may lose their savings; learn how to recognize scammers and what steps to take to protect yourself.
A 'mistaken' message on WhatsApp, weeks of pleasant acquaintance, and then 'joint investment' in crypto on a fake platform; we describe a scheme known as pig butchering, data from the FBI and FinCEN, and where to report incidents in the USA and Poland.
An advertisement featuring a celebrity 'recommending' an investment is usually a scam involving deepfake technology; we explain what happens after clicking, how to verify offers in official U.S. and Polish registries, and where to report the ad and loss.
Fake cryptocurrency platforms, 'safe accounts', gold for couriers, promissory notes, and pyramid schemes in communities. How scams operate that cause seniors in the U.S. to lose the most, what the FBI and FTC data for 2025 indicates, and what to do when money has already been lost.
Learn what to look out for to avoid bad financial advisors and discover the red flags that may indicate dangerous practices in financial management.
911 is a single emergency number across the USA that connects you to the nearest Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), which dispatches police, fire, and ambulance services; calling 911 is free from any phone, but ambulance transport to the hospital incurs costs (averaging $500-$3000 without insurance).
Housing scams are a plague for new immigrants – offers 'too good to be true' for 30% of the market, wire deposits before viewing, stolen photos. A complete guide: 10 types of scams (Craigslist fake listing, fake landlord, sublease scam, deposit theft, fake roommate), red flags, how to verify, where to report, how to recover money.
An immigration lawyer can make or break your case; this comprehensive guide covers where to look (AILA, Polish community offices), what questions to ask, typical costs per case, red flags (notarios, guarantees of results, cash only), the difference between lawyer vs notario vs paralegal, and pro bono options for low-income individuals.
AI in 2026 has changed the dynamics of online threats to children; this guide provides Polish parents in the USA with essential information on AI sextortion (deepfake porn), groomers on Discord/Snapchat, screen time, parental controls, communication strategies, and reporting resources (NCMEC, FBI), along with Polish resources.
How to protect online accounts: a password manager with a master password of 16+ characters, two-factor authentication (SMS, app, hardware key, passkey), backup codes, protection against SIM swapping, and an IRS IP PIN checklist, based on recommendations from CISA, FTC, and FCC.
Identity theft is the second most common crime in the USA, with a complete guide for 2026 on how identity theft works, how to check if you are a victim, credit freeze (the best protection!), fraud alert, identitytheft.gov, and what to do if your identity has already been stolen.
Someone from Tinder/FB/Match asks for money "for a ticket, for surgery, for investment" or talks about "certain" Bitcoin? This is a romance scam – the most costly scam for seniors (average loss of $9,000). Complete guide: how it works, red flags, how to protect yourself, where to report.
SMS/email/phone call from "IRS" about unpaid taxes? "USCIS" about a delayed case? "USPS" about a stuck package? The most common phishing scams of 2026 targeting the Polish community. How to recognize them, how to verify, where to report.
Scammers in 2026 clone your child/grandchild's voice from 3 seconds of audio from Facebook and call pretending they need money for an emergency/accident/ransom, targeting older Polish-Americans; learn how to recognize, protect yourself, and establish a family security password.