Do you want to get PLN 800 for a child? What needs to be done? Don’t click on the link. It’s a scam

From January 1, 2024, the 500 plus benefit has increased and is no longer PLN 500, but PLN 800 for each child. Fraudsters are trying to take advantage of the situation by trying to persuade program beneficiaries to provide their data under the pretext of increasing the amount paid.

ZUS warns. You do not need to fill out the form to receive 800 plus

We heard about this type of fraud for the first time at the end of December 2023, when the Social Insurance Institution warned about a wave of false forms posted online by fraudsters. They encouraged people to complete an application to “compensate” the amount of the benefit from PLN 500 to PLN 800 for several months of the previous year (of course, ZUS did not plan to additionally pay the benefits already paid).

Now ZUS is warning against another wave of fraud related to the program. As it turns out, Poles receive e-mails in which cybercriminals impersonate ZUS. The e-mails are styled in such a way that they closely resemble messages from the PUE ZUS website – he writes, citing information from the Department.

Fraudsters encourage you to click on a link that will redirect you to a crafted website, e.g. with a fake form. Entering any data there means handing it over to cybercriminals. In other versions of this scam, fraudsters also ask for payment of several dozen zlotys towards the alleged fee for increasing the benefit.

It is worth remembering that to receive PLN 800 – instead of PLN 500 – for a child, you do not have to do anything at all. ZUS does not require you to fill out any forms or pay any fees, because the change in the amount of the benefit takes place automatically. The exception are parents of newborn children who did not receive 500 plus before. These families have three months to submit an application.