In recent days, the Milan Public Prosecutor's Office's Anti-Fraud Unit, in collaboration with the Naples Police Headquarters' Flying Squad, made three arrests as part of an operation targeting a network of scammers specializing in defrauding the elderly. Two men and a woman, all Italian citizens, were remanded in custody on charges of aggravated fraud, aggravated residential burglary, and improper use of credit cards.
The investigation revealed a well-rehearsed technique used by the suspects to extort money and valuables from three elderly victims. The arrested individuals contacted their victims by phone, pretending to be relatives in financial difficulty, often for the purchase of computer equipment or other urgent expenses.
Using alarmist and pressing tones, they led the elderly to believe that if the debt was not repaid immediately, their grandchild or child risked serious legal consequences, including arrest. The victims, driven by fear and the desire to help their loved ones, were induced to gather all the valuables in the house and hand them over to an accomplice who would show up at the door.
It might interest you
State Property Agency launches new large-scale tender: 14 public properties seeking a future
Tragedy in Houston: Father hit by car in front of his children's school. Cilento mourns Nino Ruocco.
Pompeii: Discoveries in the slave quarters: beans and fruit emerge, evidence of the slaves' diet.
A couple of burglars caught on TikTok videos were arrested in Scampia.
In the meantime, the operator continued to keep the victim busy on the phone, preventing her from contacting other people or thinking about what was happening. The accomplice, having arrived at the victims' home, not only collected money and jewelry, but also stole payment cards, using them to withdraw cash or purchase goods, such as clothing and tobacco.
The investigative operation has brought to light a worrying phenomenon of "criminal commuting", in which the telephone operators and accomplices responsible for collecting the goods operated mainly between Milan and Naples. The investigation was conducted by interviewing the victims, analyzing video surveillance footage, and conducting in-depth checks of bank and telephone records.
Leave a comment