On October 28, 2026, a meeting titled “Aware Senior – Safe Senior” was held in Warsaw, with the main aim of increasing legal knowledge and the safety level of the elderly. The event, organized in response to growing digital threats and escalating cases of fraud, gathered representatives of the highest state authorities and security experts.

Participants included Minister of Justice Waldemar Żurek, Marzena Okła-Drewnowicz – State Secretary in the Chancellery of the Prime Minister and government representative for senior policy, as well as Mazowieckie Voivode Mariusz Frankowski accompanied by Deputy Voivode Patryk Fajdek and representatives of uniformed services. Attendees listened to lectures on the latest criminal methods and online safety principles.

Education as the primary line of defense

Government representatives emphasized that protecting seniors goes beyond material issues and includes building a sense of security and autonomy. Mazowieckie Voivode Mariusz Frankowski noted that state institutions are obliged not only to support but primarily to educate, so that older people can recognize threats and effectively defend their interests. He stressed that programs like this are particularly important in smaller towns and areas with limited access to such initiatives. The goal is to reach every senior, regardless of their place of residence, so that they know how to avoid manipulation and where to seek help in difficult situations.

Minister of Justice Waldemar Żurek pointed out that criminal methods are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with a significant share of threats moving to the virtual space. He noted that despite changing techniques, the fraud mechanism remains similar: perpetrators first gain the victim's trust and then attempt to exploit it. In the context of these changes, the minister appealed for attention to simple but effective preventive steps, particularly the registration of the PESEL number, which can protect against serious legal and financial consequences.

Program scope and partnerships

The “Aware Senior – Safe Senior” program is already operating throughout Poland, following positive results during its pilot phase in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship. According to sources, the extension of the initiative to additional topics – such as patient rights or issues related to the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) – was a response to specific needs reported by the participants themselves. The program is implemented by the Ministry of Justice and the Government Representative for Senior Policy.

Key state and industry institutions are involved in the initiative, including the National Command of the Police, voivodeship and metropolitan police commands, the Computer Science and Computer Network (NASK), the National Notaries Bar Council, and the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK). An educational stand of the Social Insurance Institution and the Metropolitan Police Command was also available at the event, enabling direct contact between seniors and officers and experts.

Government representative for senior policy Marzena Okła-Drewnowicz reminded attendees that the mere existence of good legal regulations is insufficient if citizens do not know how to use them. She emphasized the importance of education conducted by practitioners who can point to specific behaviors in crisis situations. She also recommended using the official guide for seniors, published on the website senior.gov.pl, and sharing the acquired knowledge with close ones.

Key threats for seniors

The main workshop point of the meeting was lectures prepared by experts from the judiciary, police services, notaries, and organizations supporting the elderly. The topics were divided into thematic blocks selected based on statistical data regarding crime against seniors. The most important of them included:

  • Analysis of the "grandparent scheme" and other crimes targeting property.
  • Principles of safe internet usage and personal data protection.
  • Basic consumer rights in everyday market relations.
  • Methods for recognizing domestic violence and ways to counter it.
  • Issues of asset management, including legal aspects of wills, donations, and life annuity contracts.

This wide thematic scope aimed to comprehensively prepare seniors to function in a modern, digital environment where the boundaries between public and private spaces are becoming increasingly fluid.