Palma Campania – The scam market is constantly evolving, and anyone can become a potential prey.
An emblematic case is the one that emerged in Palma Campania, reconstructed by the Carabinieri of San Giuseppe Vesuviano. Here the victims are not elderly, but two teachers aged 41 and 43, who fell into the net of a 52-year-old from Palma who deceived them with a scam linked to the TFA Sostegno (Internship Training Active for Support), the training program that qualifies teachers to work with disabled students in Italian schools.
The TFA Sostegno is a university course lasting about a year, which includes theoretical lessons, laboratories and a final exam to obtain the qualification. The two teachers, already with teaching experience, dreamed of specializing in support.
The two teachers dreamed of specializing in supporting disabled students
The 52-year-old convinced them by introducing himself as a staff member of a prestigious Neapolitan university, offering to manage the enrollment in the course in exchange for a fee of 1.000 euros each. A seemingly modest sum compared to the 5.500 euros requested for the course, but which hid a well-orchestrated deception.
After receiving a cash advance to cover “living expenses,” the man sent the victims a link to access alleged online lessons and an official document with stamps and signatures, including that of the Rector, certifying their enrollment in the TFA.
Months passed, and the two teachers faced what they believed to be the final exam: a video conference organized by the 52-year-old, in which an accomplice played the role of teacher. At the end of the interview, the victims received a certificate attesting that they had passed the exam with the highest grades: 30 out of XNUMX.
The scam went on for over a year. One of the two teachers, convinced she was in good standing, worked in four schools in the province of Naples. But in February 2024, the secretary of one of the schools contacted the university to verify the validity of the qualification. The answer was clear: the TFA was fake. Only then did the woman realize she had been deceived and reported the matter to the Carabinieri.
The investigations led to the identification of the 52-year-old, now reported for fraud and material forgery committed by the private individual. A case that demonstrates how, even in an apparently safe context such as the school one, bad faith can find space. And that, once again, reiterates the importance of vigilance and prevention against a constantly changing phenomenon.
Article published on 26 February 2025 - 06:40
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It's incredible how there are people who exploit the good faith of others. Teachers should have been more careful and informed about how the qualification courses work, but it's also true that the scams are well done.