Elderly scams: loot of almost 2 million euros

A highly organised criminal network, Specializing in scams for the elderly, was dismantled by the Genoa Mobile Squad with the support of numerous Italian police headquarters.

The toll is heavy: 103 frauds confirmed, “exhausted and terrified” victims, and a loot estimated at almost two million euros between cash and jewels.

The ruthless technique of the “fake accident”

The group operated with a proven modus operandi: they contacted the elderly by telephone, posing as law enforcement officers or lawyers, and convinced them that a family member of theirs had caused a serious accident, requiring a cash or valuables bail to avoid arrest.

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The calls, lasting even more than an hour, were designed for 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 in the house, they found a pretext to push him away.

Criminal call centers and travel agents in action

The organization had a pyramidal 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 went as far as imitate the voices of relatives, maintaining the telephone line is constantly busy to prevent any verification. When the victim gave in, the so-called “transferists” intervened, responsible for collecting the money. The criminals moved around with rental cars and phones registered to front men, using logistical bases distributed throughout the territory, in particular between Naples and Aversa.

The investigation started from Genoa

The investigation, launched in June 2023 after the complaint of an elderly Genoese woman, it led to 75 arrests in flagrante delicto and seizure of assets worth 1,7 million euros. The suspects, all over 30 and of Campanian origin, are accused of criminal association 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

The police chief of Genoa, Silvia Burdese, highlighted the gravity of the phenomenon: "We are talking about a fragile world, our elderly, who are defrauded at home, in their deepest affections, by criminals devoid of any empathy. The psychological consequences are devastating. Some do not even report, 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, of Campanian origin, and already known to the police. The organization, rooted especially between Naples and Caserta, moved with extreme speed, exploiting the vulnerability of a population - like the Ligurian one - with one of the highest average ages in Italy, particularly exposed to this type of crime.

The Police invites citizens to never trust telephone requests for money and remember 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 people.