Trieste – The Carabinieri of Trieste have dealt a heavy blow to a criminal network specializing in scams against the elderly, leading to the arrest of 10 people and the reporting of 29 others.
Article Key Points
The operation, called “Fumo del Vesuvio”, is the culmination of an investigation launched in the summer of 2023, after a series of reports of scams targeting elderly people.
The modus operandi
The scammers, posing as lawyers or Carabinieri marshals, contacted the victims by telephone, telling them of an alleged accident involving a child or grandchild.
To resolve the situation, they asked for large sums of money. Once they had gained the trust of the victim, the "tax collectors" went to the home to collect the money or valuables.
Investigations and results
The investigations, coordinated by the Public Prosecutor's Office of Trieste and conducted in collaboration with the Carabinieri of Naples, have allowed the entire criminal structure to be reconstructed.
The “switchboard operators”, operating mainly from the Campania area, made random calls until a victim fell into the trap. The “debt collectors”, on the other hand, moved to different locations in Northern Italy to collect the loot.
Operation balance sheet
- 10 arrests
- 29 complaints at large
- 38 scams confirmed
- Approximately 150.000 euros of proceeds recovered
Operation “Fumo del Vesuvio” dismantled a well-organized criminal network that had caused significant economic and psychological damage to the victims. Investigations are still ongoing to identify any other accomplices and recover further proceeds of the scams.
Article published on March 22, 2025 - 12pm
