The Incognito investigation, carried out by the Carabinieri of Verbania in collaboration with the military of the Provincial Commands of Naples, Caserta and Bologna, lasted over 8 months and allowed the dismantling of an organization capable of obtaining hundreds of thousands of euros from credit cards intercepted before reaching the recipients.
I Carabinieri have documented a total of 133 criminal events, committed from January to May 2019 to the detriment of 122 injured parties, for a total sum of several hundred thousand euros. During the investigation, 220 credit cards of illicit origin and 7.450 euros in cash were found and seized. The operation by the Carabinieri of Verbania, in collaboration with the military of the Naples, Caserta and Bologna forces, takes its name from one of the software used by the gang, 'Incognito', which led to the execution of 11 precautionary measures (three other people are wanted) issued by the investigating judge at the Court of Naples. These are people seriously suspected of the crimes of criminal association aimed at receiving stolen goods and the improper use, with activation with fraudulent methods, of credit/debit cards of illicit origin.
"To achieve their goal - explains Colonel Alberto Cicognani, Provincial Commander of the Carabinieri of Verbania - the associates had created a highly organized structure. From a room used as an office, in Naples, the recipients of the credit cards, but also public offices, banks and financial institutions, were contacted with 'social engineering' methods, in order to obtain the confidential data necessary for the activation and use of the credit cards they had available". "To deceive the interlocutors - continues Colonel Cicognani - programs were also used that modified the telephone number of the caller so as to make the customer believe that the call was coming from the bank and vice versa". The criminals were able to bypass the security systems activated by the banks and the defrauded only learned of the charges upon receipt of the account statement.
Article published on 1 July 2020 - 13:43
