“It Was Like a Horror Movie”…Crowds Brought Excavators for ‘Free Potatoes,’ but the Truth Was Shocking

Crowds Drawn by "Free Giveaway" Fake News
Hundreds Gather After SNS "False Video"
Polish Farmer Loses 150 Tons of Potatoes
Victimized Farmer: "I Want a Peaceful Resolution"

A bizarre incident occurred in Poland where a farmer lost over 150 tons of potatoes to theft after a fake video spread on social media. Having farmed his entire life, he could not hide his dismay, describing the experience as "something out of a horror movie."

150 Tons of Potatoes Stolen Due to Fake News About "Free Giveaway"

People are scooping up potatoes in Piotr's potato field. OdityCentral

According to reports from Vice, OdityCentral, and other foreign media outlets on October 22 (local time), Piotr, a 68-year-old potato farmer in the Podkarpacie region of southeastern Poland, recently suffered unexpected losses because of a video posted on Facebook.

The video showed a man standing in Piotr's field, claiming, "The farmer has dumped 150 tons of potatoes that he cannot sell. Anyone can come and take them for free." The supposed reason was that, after harvesting and storing the potatoes, the farmer could not find buyers and wanted local residents to take them themselves.

Even Excavators Arrived... Damages Exceed 20 Million Won

The video quickly spread through local communities and social media. Hundreds of residents flocked to the farm, bringing sacks, buckets, and even excavators. There was even a vehicle that carried away as much as 60 tons. The value of the stolen potatoes was estimated at about 14,000 euros (approximately 23.3 million won).

At the time, Piotr was away from the farm attending a family gathering. Unaware of what had happened, he returned to find only scattered potato pieces and emptied sacks strewn across the field, leaving him in shock. He said, "I've never experienced anything like this in my life," adding, "It felt like a nightmare straight out of a horror movie."

Piotr has not reported the incident to the police yet, instead waiting for voluntary returns. He said, "I don't want to cause a commotion. I hope this can be resolved peacefully. But if there is no response, I will have no other choice." The video has now been deleted, and the identity of the original poster remains unknown.