Poland’s Central Bureau for Combating Cybercrime (CBZC) recently announced the arrest of a 23-year-old man from Szczecin under suspicion of stalking, identity fraud, and causing massive financial losses to several Polish companies by ordering hundreds of pizzas at random addresses accross the country. None of the people indicated as recipients were ever informed about the orders placed in their name.
According to an investigation by Polish police, the pizza orders placed by the young suspect in this bizarre case not only included detailed information about the victims, which could only have been known to them or their closest friends and relatives, but also serious threats like abducting a minor, setting fire to workplaces or intentionally causing road accidents. This reportedly left many of his victims feeling threatened and tormented.
Most of the bogus pizza delivery orders were meant for addresses in Szczecin, but at least a few dozens targeted addresses in major Polish cities like Wrocław, Kraków and Warsaw. Although several eateries ended up incurring serious losses by fulfilling the received orders, some deliveries were rejected for technical reasons.
In one instance, the 23-year-old suspect is believed to have placed an order for 300 pizzas for a total price exceeding 37,000 zlotys ($10,000). In several other instances, the restaurants canceled the order because the sheer number of pizzas made preparation in a timely manner impossible.
Officers from the Central Bureau for Combating Cybercrime and the Investigative Department of the Municipal Police Headquarters in Szczecin recently raided the suspect’s home and seized devices and data carriers that they suspect was used in the costly pizza delivery prank.
If found guilty, the 23-year-old man risks spending up to eight years behind bars. As for his motive, investigators are still trying to figure that out.
