Thousands of tourists spend May weekend in the Bieszczady Mountains. The most popular towns such as Cisna, Wetlina and Solina are under siege. But not only tourists spend the first days of May in this corner of Poland. Scammers who extort money from people using the “three cups” method have also returned.
People offering tourists the game of three cups usually appear in the Bieszczady Mountains during the May long weekend. And so it was this year. – We received the first report of fraudsters using the “three cups” method on May 1. A police patrol was immediately sent to the site, and it was published on our police website with a warning against fraudsters – tells us staff aspirant Katarzyna Fechner, press officer of the District Police Headquarters in Lesko.
The perpetrators, as Midshipman Fechner admits, could not be arrested. – They are organized into gangs that set up “guards” and run away as soon as the police approach the place of illegal gambling – he explains.
The police warn against fraudstersKPP Lesko
They have been cheating in Solina for years
As she said in an interview with tvn24.pl, it is the same group from Nowy Sącz that has been “operating” in Solina for years, well known to the police. The fraudsters set up on the promenade leading to the dam, right at the foot of the gondola station – in the vicinity of the two largest tourist attractions in the region. They choose places where it is crowded and there are no city surveillance cameras.
When uniformed officers appear nearby, they immediately disperse, take the cardboard and cups and go in different directions.
Fraudsters – as the police emphasize – work in a group, everyone has their own specific role. KPP in Lesko
“Perfectly organized and ruthless”
The game pattern is seemingly very simple: there are three cups and one ball. If the player guesses which cup it is under, they win money. The problem is that fraudsters have mastered their “art” to perfection and it is impossible to defeat them. They have been learning the art of “mixing” for years. They are very good at it.
They are also well organized. Each person in the group has a specific role. The “mixers” operate the cups, the players who win money are substituted. By lively commenting on the win, they are supposed to attract the attention of passers-by and encourage them to play. There are also fake people in the crowd. Their task is also to encourage as many onlookers as possible to play. The so-called lookouts are on watch – they are supposed to inform the rest of the team about approaching policemen, observe the crowd and make sure that no one takes photos of the players or records the course of the game.
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You can't win with cheaters
– A person who starts the game has no chance of winning, and the organizers of illegal games are perfectly organized and ruthless – emphasizes staff aspirant Katarzyna Fechner from the Lesko police.
Hence another police appeal to tourists to be reasonable and not to play the three-cup game, and if they lose, report such incidents to the nearest police station. You can also do it anonymously by calling 112 or via the National Security Threat Map.
Information about fraudsters can be reported via the National Security Threat Map KPP in Lesko
In the near future, a banner will be hung over the promenade leading to the dam in Solina warning tourists about a gang of scammers. – We have established cooperation with the Solina commune authorities on this matter, the banner will be displayed throughout the entire tourist season and will warn against fraudsters – informs Fechner.
He adds: – Their target are tourists, persuaded to play the seemingly innocent game of three cups. In fact, the game is just an excuse to extract all the money from the player. In this game, only its organizers win.
Main photo source: Shutterstock