Making money out of misery. photo - east newsPolice from the central city of Lodz have detained a 26-year old man who wheedled money out of internet users pretending to be a charity worker raising funds for flood victims.
It is estimated that the man, who pretended to work for Caritas Polska and other charity organizations, could have allegedly swindled at least 1,500 people.
The fraud was uncovered when police launched an investigation after a popular social networking site reported that a man opened several accounts under different names and encouraged internet users to donate 5 to 10 zloty (1.2-2.4 euro) to flood victims.
“The man asked people to transfer money to his account and to send a chain letter with request for help to their friends,” says Magdalena Zielinska, a spokeswoman from the Lodz police.
The man already spent 3,500 zloty (860 euro) from the money raised from internet users. Police established that it was not the first time that the man had conned money out of social networking site nasza-klasa.pl.
At the end of 2009, the man pretended to be a single mother whose son was seriously ill. During the interrogation the man denied being involved in charity frauds. The Prosecutor’s Office in Lodz laid several charges against the alleged fraudster who may face up to eight years in prison. (mg/pg)
Source: PAP
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