--- title: "130 Dummy Companies and 11,400 False Applications: How Ukrainians in Poland Can Avoid Fake Job Schemes" description: "Poland is investigating a scheme involving 130 dummy companies that processed over 11.4 thousand false applications for foreign employment. Ukrainians are advised to verify employers before departure." date: 2026-11-02T13:52:07.738Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/130-dummy-companies-and-11400-false-applications-poland tags: [poland, ukraine, migration, fake-jobs, labor-scheme, work-visa] author: "Roman V." publisher: "XAB.info" --- # 130 Dummy Companies and 11,400 False Applications: How Ukrainians in Poland Can Avoid Fake Job Schemes ![A woman sits at a desk with a concerned expression, examining official documents regarding job vacancies](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/02/130-fiktivnyh-kompaniy-i-11400-lozhnyh-zayavleniy-v-polshche/130-fiktivnyh-kompaniy-i-11400-lozhnyh-zayavleniy-v-polshche-1.webp) ## Key Points - Over 11,400 false foreign employment applications were registered through 130 dummy companies in Poland - Documents from a dummy employer do not confirm legal work and can complicate obtaining a residence permit - Conscious use of a forged document is punishable under Art. 270 § 1 of the Polish Penal Code — up to five years in prison - Before departure, you must check the draft contract, workplace, and salary payer; an intermediary's refusal to name the employer is a reason to refuse A large-scale scheme is being investigated in Poland, through which more than 11,400 false applications for the employment of foreigners were registered via 130 dummy companies. According to the investigation, these applications were used to issue work visas and cross the border, but no actual vacancies followed them. According to specialists, the main risk group remains Ukrainians looking for work in Poland. The scheme involves creating the appearance of legal employment: a person receives documents based on which they enter the country, but upon arrival discovers that the employer and the workplace do not exist. ### How the Scheme Works and Why It Is Dangerous The mechanics of the fraud are based on the formal issuing of an invitation from an employer. A dummy company submits an application of intent to hire a foreign worker, on the basis of which the applicant receives a work visa and crosses the border. However, upon arrival, it turns out that the vacancy does not exist, and the employer is a fictional structure. For the victim, this means losing money spent on intermediaries and paperwork, as well as a lack of legal employment. In addition, documents from a dummy employer do not confirm the legality of employment, which can significantly complicate obtaining or extending a temporary residence permit in Poland. ### What Experts Advise Checking Before Departure Specialists from the Gremi Personal agency recommend checking three key elements before leaving for Poland: the draft employment contract, the specific workplace, and information on who exactly will pay the salary. If the intermediary refuses to name the employer or offers to issue an invitation without a contract and without confirmation from the enterprise, this is a direct reason to reject the offer. Experts emphasize that a legal employer has no reason to hide their identity and working conditions. ### Legal Consequences for the Victim and the Fraudster If a person was unaware of the fraud and became a victim of scammers, they generally face no criminal punishment. However, material damage — lost money and lack of work — remains. The situation is completely different when a forged document is consciously used as genuine: Article 270 § 1 of the Polish Penal Code provides for imprisonment from three months to five years. In addition to criminal prosecution, a decision to refuse entry or a return order with a re-entry ban to the country is possible. ### What to Do If the Fraud Is Discovered Already in Poland If upon arrival it turns out that the vacancy does not exist, it is necessary to immediately save all evidence: correspondence with the intermediary, the original advertisement, copies of all provided documents, and proof of payment for services. Based on this, you should seek legal assistance to protect your rights and, if necessary, file a statement with law enforcement agencies. The earlier the evidence is recorded, the higher the chances of getting a refund and avoiding responsibility for using documents that were formally issued based on false data. ### Context: Poland's Labor Market in 2026 The investigation of the scheme takes place against the backdrop of changing dynamics in the Polish labor market. In the second quarter of 2026, Polish companies became more restrained in hiring permanent staff, which increases competition for jobs and creates additional demand for "quick" employment solutions — precisely the demand that fraudulent schemes target. Ukrainian sole proprietors (JDG) in Poland may also face restrictions when hiring foreigners, making the verification of an employer's legality an even more urgent task for anyone planning labor migration to the country. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [11 тысяч фальшивых заявлений о работе в Польше: как украинцам проверить работодателя](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/11-tisyach-falshivih-zayav-robotu-polshchi-1793626138.html) - Primary source. Contains all key facts: 130 companies, 11,400 applications, Gremi Personal recommendations, Art. 270 § 1 Polish Penal Code, JDG context and Q2 2026. ## FAQ ### What should I do if the intermediary does not name the employer? This is a direct reason to reject the offer. A legal employer does not hide their identity. If the invitation is issued without a contract and without confirmation from the enterprise, the probability of a fake vacancy is high. ### Am I facing criminal liability if I didn't know about the fraud? As a rule, no. If a person did not know that the documents were issued based on false data, they face no criminal punishment. However, they may lose money and remain unemployed. ### What is the prison sentence for using a forged document in Poland? Under Article 270 § 1 of the Polish Penal Code, the conscious use of a forged document as genuine carries a penalty of three months to five years in prison. Entry refusal or a return decision with a re-entry ban is also possible. ### What should I do if the fraud is discovered after crossing the border? Save correspondence with the intermediary, the advertisement, copies of documents, and payment confirmations. Then seek legal assistance to protect your rights and, if necessary, file a report with law enforcement agencies.