Fake goods in Poland

Evidently, since the poor guy's been swindled out of 5000pln in a car park by a conman who targets over 65s! I'm surprised you need to ask.


The whole point is that if nobody complains, the law will never reflect injustice. You may as well say that a man knocking on an old lady's door with bad intentions isn't committing a crime if he says he's from the Cas Company rather than the Gas Company!

And as I said before (do I really need to repeat it ad nauseam?), the police have a role in advising elderly people about personal safety and work with local news to publicise such things for the public good

"Pips quote" does not mention the over 65's

The whole situation is unbelievably embarrassing ---but it can happen to the best of us.

The guy had a business card with a web site, wearing a suit- had a good story---but he is a thief and he targets men in their late 50s early 60s who remember communist life and the black market buying and smuggling--and then speaks in only Italian to make his story more believable.

Pip's F.I.L was not vunerable he was a fool, this may be harder to live with.


The whole point is to know the law and NOT to waste Police time, its not the citizens advice bureau. If people who shopped in ' Delikatesy Mini Europa' complained to the Police because the price was cheaper in "Biedronka" please.


Typical retort from you.

He can say he is from whatever company he wishes, its his actions after his words which will be judged. If people in Poland are judged on their words, half the business people in Warsaw, Krakow and other Polish cities could be prosecuted, come on John stop acting so naive, lying is a national sport in Poland and it is very popular in all walks of life.

Rather cynical! When conmen lie to the elderly, I believe the police have a role. Whether or not you think otherwise.


I think if you read the thread carefully you''l notice that it is about a scam that targets older people.


No. It is not a waste. The police play a valuable role in protecting the vulnerable, and even where it is hard for them to get involved in individual cases they have a role in warning the public about scams. Is that the third time I've had to repeat it for you?

To be honest, her father as a "fachowiec" was acting very naive. I mean, me as a complete amateur would not buy anything on a parking.

here is the thing- all of us are left shaking our heads. My father in law included. It is very easy to sit in judgement after the fact. A momentary lapse in good judgement has just cost him 5,000 pln. Actually more than that as well as embarrassment. When this happened- he wasn't looking for a generator but the guy presented himself as a dealer, with a business card who couldn't get on the flight because of the load restrictions and he was stuck and didn't know what to do. He was practically in tears trying to unload the crap.

Buying something outside the Castorama to somebody who barely remembers communism would be shocking- but my father in law who extensively travelled outside of Poland used to smuggle toys, fruits and clothing from the west into Poland--this is not a stretch. Old habits die hard- so to speak.

And that is what the target market is.

5,000 pln is nothing compared to the humiliation he feels as well as the feeling of being completely taken for a burak.

Now we are laughing about it but I want others to be aware of this guy and his methods

Most expats would say ' lying is a national sport for many Poles'

Maybe you have been away from PL too long Jon.


Pip specifically mentions those who t


or the smuggling days form Germany,with my knowledge of PL I would put the age group 45+ I do not class that as elderly more middle aged and upper.


I much prefer to focus on content and fact, although I believe your intentions to be good Jon, I do find many of your posts

' spurious'


The unfortunate thing is a good samaritan is now left with a bitter taste in his mouth, he will now cross the road. thanks for bringing this charlatan and his tricks to our attention PIP.

How many chainsaws and generators did he buy with 5000 PLN?

No. I wouldn't say that and perhaps have had a better experience of them than you.


Two and a half weeks? I live in Warsaw an have done for a long time. No plans to move either.


I rather think her father in law is somewhat older.


Stop trolling.


The issue is all the other people who could be caught by the same scam. It's great that Pip has mentioned it here though there probably aren't many people reading who are likely to be targeted by anyone running a con like this. At least people might talk about it and it could reach the ears of someone who may find themselves glad to have known about it when they;re approached.

Which is why it's worth bringing to the attention of the authorities - the police do actually like to hear about scams and increasingly publicise them.

it's fortunate for the italian that your f-i-l just happened to have five grand in his back pocket.

There is no Castorama in Gdynia :)

seriously? It is Rumia, but a clearer picture is painted by saying Gdynia- which is, as you well know, on the border of the city.

Actually - that's the problem. I wouldn't because my technical knowledge is useless when it comes to this sort of thing, but someone who has a clue might easily be swayed.


This would've raised an eyebrow with me - who would assume that they could turn up at the airport and load a bunch of equipment like that without arranging it in advance?

But - even at the airport - he could just organise with LOT to transport it as cargo to the destination. That's what would've made me suspicious.