Elderly scams: loot of almost 2 million euros

A highly organized criminal network specializing in scams targeting the elderly has been dismantled by the Genoa Flying Squad with the support of numerous Italian police headquarters.

The toll is heavy: 103 confirmed frauds , “exhausted and terrified” victims, and an estimated loot of almost two million euros in cash and jewelry.

The ruthless technique of the “fake accident”

The group operated with a tried and tested modus operandi : they contacted elderly people by telephone, pretending to be members of the police or lawyers , and convinced them that one of their family members had caused a serious accident , requiring bail in the form of money or valuables to avoid arrest.

The calls, which sometimes lasted more than an hour , were designed to psychologically isolate the victim : the scammers prevented any verification , sometimes even imitating the voice of the relative in danger . In some cases, if a family member was present at home, they found a pretext to send them away.

Criminal call centers and travel agents in action

The organization had a pyramid structure :

• The “telephone operators”, active in illegal call centers between Naples and Aversa, they carried out up to 1.200 calls per day.
• The “travelers”, organized in at least seven patrols, they withdrew the money throughout Italy, using rental cars and anonymous phone cards.
• The coordinators They managed logistics, financing and legal assistance.

• The modus operandi: “There was an accident, bail is needed”

  The technique was as tried and tested as it was ruthless. The scammers, pretending to be members of the police force or lawyers, contacted the victims – always elderly – telling them of a fake car accident caused by a close relative, often with serious consequences. In an alarmed and pressing tone, they asked for a “bail” in cash or valuables to avoid the arrest of the family member.

  In some cases, they even imitated the voices of relatives , keeping the phone line constantly busy to prevent any verification. When the victim gave in, the so-called "transfer agents" intervened, responsible for collecting the money. The criminals traveled in rental cars and phones registered to front men, using logistical bases spread across the country, particularly between Naples and Aversa.

The investigation started from Genoa

The investigation, launched in June 2023 following a complaint from an elderly Genoese woman, has led to 75 arrests and the seizure of assets worth €1,7 million . The suspects, all over 30 and originally from Campania , are charged with criminal conspiracy and aggravated fraud.

The authorities' appeal: "Report, don't be ashamed"

Il Police Chief of Genoa, Silvia Burdese, stressed the importance of the prevention and reporting:
“The elderly are violated in their homes and in their loved ones. Many, out of shame, do not tell their families anything. But only by reporting can we stop these criminals.”Liguria, with the highest average age in Italy, it's a territory particularly at risk.

Abusive call centers and 1.200 calls per day

"The structure was pyramidal, very organized - explains the director of the Genoa Mobile Squad, Carlo Bartelli - with precise mechanisms to control the telephone line and keep the victim isolated, often for over an hour of conversation. Some episodes brought in as much as 50 thousand euros".

A cruel system: traumatized and isolated victims

Genoa's police commissioner, Silvia Burdese , highlighted the gravity of the phenomenon: "We're talking about a fragile world, our elderly, who are being defrauded in their homes, in their deepest affections, by criminals devoid of any empathy. The psychological consequences are devastating. Some don't even report it, out of shame."

Fundamental, he added, was the courage of the first victim: "It allowed us to open an investigation that revealed numbers and dynamics that we did not imagine. Now we need a collective effort to reach the last mile of prevention and awareness."

All members of the organization are adults and from Campania

All the suspects are adults, originally from Campania , and already known to law enforcement. The organization, rooted primarily in Naples and Caserta, moved extremely quickly, exploiting the vulnerability of a population—Liguria—with one of the highest average ages in Italy, particularly vulnerable to this type of crime.

The police urge citizens to never trust telephone requests for money and remind them that no law enforcement agency will ever ask for cash or jewelry to avoid arrest or charges . Every report can help break these scam chains and protect the most vulnerable.