Chrysanthou Mylona 1-3030, Panaghides Building, Episkopi, Cyprus, 350
Room 2a 14/f Chun Wo Commercial Centre, 23–29 Wing Wo Street, Central, Hong Kong
Report the fraud to the Policja (Police) immediately. Official guidance recommends reporting cybercrime without delay to the police or prosecutor’s office. A criminal complaint can also be filed directly with the Prokuratura. Provide all available evidence: contracts, payment records, communications, transaction references, and identity information for the counterparty.
If the fraud involves an investment firm, forex platform, bank, or crypto-related activity, file a complaint with the KNF – check the Public Warnings List for the entity. For AML/CFT matters, report to the GIIF. For consumer matters, contact UOKiK or the local Miejski/Powiatowy Rzecznik Konsumentów. Regulatory notification creates an enforcement record and may trigger supervisory investigation.
Contact your bank or payment institution immediately to block compromised accounts and cards and initiate recall or chargeback procedures. Where the bank refuses reimbursement for an unauthorised transaction, the Rzecznik Finansowy provides an intervention procedure and court assistance.
Check the counterparty’s registration, status, and any insolvency proceedings through Polish company registers and the bankruptcy court records. The KNF’s Public Warnings List helps verify whether the entity operates without authorisation. Insolvency or dissolution entries inform the enforcement strategy.
Save all communications, contracts, invoices, payment confirmations, website screenshots, email headers, and transaction records without alteration. Digital evidence is critical for both criminal investigation and civil proceedings and may become inaccessible if platforms delete accounts or the counterparty destroys records. Evidence preservation should begin immediately upon discovery of the fraud.
Criminal complaints filed with the Policja and prosecuted by the Prokuratura initiate formal investigation under Polish criminal law. Relevant offences include fraud, computer fraud, document fraud, identity fraud, money laundering, and fraudulent bankruptcy. Official guidance recommends reporting cybercrime without delay. Criminal proceedings provide access to investigative tools unavailable in civil litigation – bank record production orders, platform identity disclosure, telecommunications data, and international judicial cooperation through mutual legal assistance treaties and EU instruments.
Civil proceedings before the sÄ…d powszechny (common court) are available for contractual claims, damages, restitution, unjust enrichment, and rescission of fraudulent transactions. The sÄ…d upadÅ‚oÅ›ciowy (bankruptcy court) handles insolvency proceedings and creditor claims. Interim measures can be obtained to prevent dissipation of assets during proceedings. Civil litigation targets the fraudster and, where applicable, institutions that failed to prevent the fraud – including claims against banks for breach of their obligations regarding unauthorised transactions.
The Rzecznik Finansowy (Financial Ombudsman) handles disputes with financial organisations through an intervention procedure and provides assistance in court proceedings. This mechanism is particularly relevant for unauthorised transaction disputes where the bank refuses reimbursement. The Miejski/Powiatowy Rzecznik Konsumentów provides free individual consumer assistance, mediation, and help in court.
Complaints to the KNF create enforcement records that contribute to supervisory action against the entity. The KNF maintains the Public Warnings List and can take enforcement action against unauthorised providers. Regulatory proceedings can result in licence suspension or revocation, fines, public warnings, and mandatory corrective measures. Regulatory findings may support civil claims by establishing that the entity breached its obligations under Polish financial law.
Criminal complaints filed within hours of discovery give investigators the best chance of tracing funds before they are moved or layered through intermediary accounts. Bank recall mechanisms are most effective when initiated on the same day as the fraudulent transaction. Official guidance specifically recommends reporting cybercrime without delay. Regulatory notifications filed promptly create contemporaneous records that strengthen both criminal and civil proceedings.
Named counterparties with identifiable assets in Poland – bank accounts, real property, registered companies, vehicles – are the most viable targets for civil recovery and enforcement. Where the fraudster operated anonymously or through shell structures, criminal investigation through the Policja and Prokuratura is the primary identification tool through bank records, platform data, and telecommunications records.
Where a regulated institution – bank, investment firm, forex platform, or entity supervised by the KNF – failed to comply with its supervisory obligations, institutional liability claims provide an alternative recovery path against a solvent, regulated defendant. The Rzecznik Finansowy’s intervention procedure is particularly relevant where a bank disputes an unauthorised transaction claim. These claims do not depend on the fraudster’s identifiability or asset position.
Contracts, payment records, communications, transaction references, and digital forensic evidence form the foundation for both criminal prosecution and civil recovery. Incomplete evidence – missing transaction references, deleted communications, unrecorded oral agreements – weakens both the criminal case and the civil enforcement position. Immediate, comprehensive evidence preservation at the point of discovery is the single most important step a victim can take to support recovery.
Fraud recovery in Poland operates through criminal proceedings, civil litigation, financial ombudsman intervention, and regulatory complaints – each channel serving a distinct function in identifying the fraudster, preserving assets, and achieving financial recovery. The KNF supervises investment firms, forex platforms, and banks, and participates in MiCA crypto-asset supervision – maintaining the Public Warnings List for unauthorised providers. The Rzecznik Finansowy provides intervention and court assistance for financial service disputes, particularly relevant for unauthorised transaction claims. The Policja and Prokuratura handle criminal investigation and prosecution across all fraud types. UOKiK and local consumer ombudsmen protect consumer interests.
Speed of reporting determines outcomes across all channels. Official guidance recommends reporting cybercrime without delay to the police or prosecutor’s office. Bank recall and chargeback mechanisms lose effectiveness with each day of delay. Evidence preserved at the point of discovery – contracts, communications, transaction records, digital forensic data – forms the foundation for every recovery action. Formal proceedings are conducted in Polish, making early engagement of local counsel essential for international clients.
If you suffered financial losses through fraud involving Polish companies, institutions, or counterparties, contact Veritas Advisory Group to have your legal position assessed.
Veritas Advisory Group provides professional legal and advisory services to victims of investment and trade fraud in Europe. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
