Ostuni – An elderly woman over 90 from Ostuni showed lucidity and composure when, recognising the signs of a scam in progress, she alerted the police and allowed the arrest of a 45-year-old man originally from the province of Napoli.
According to the investigators' reconstruction, it all started with a phone call received by the woman from a self-styled carabiniere, who informed her of an alleged road accident that had occurred to her son, urgently asking for jewelry and cash to "fix" the matter.
The elderly woman, suspicious of the tone and content of the call, realized that she was facing a scam attempt. Without losing her temper, she asked for help from a neighbor, who immediately contacted the police.
When the scammer showed up near the house to collect the loot, he found State Police officers waiting for him instead, who stopped him and arrested him.
After the arrest was validated, the judge ordered the man to remain in his municipality of residence. Investigations are now underway to identify any accomplices, in particular the author of the fraudulent phone call.
An episode that demonstrates how, even at an advanced age, quick wit and attention can make the difference in combating scams against the elderly, a phenomenon that is unfortunately increasingly widespread.
Article published on 4 April 2025 - 19:50
