Naples, the discovered fraudster's curse against the elderly woman: "You must die, you must die."

NNaples – “You must die… you must die”: this is how one of the three scammers arrested in Naples reacted when he realized that his victim – an elderly woman from the Neapolitan area – had escaped the trap.

An escalation of hatred and threats that highlights, once again, the brutality with which scammers target the elderly, taking advantage of their fragility and deepest feelings, such as the love for a child.

The affair unfolded in recent days, but came to light today thanks to the operation by the Carabinieri of the Castello di Cisterna company, which led to the arrest of Paolo Del Giudice (32 years old), considered the leader of the gang, Mario Torre (38 years old), and Antonio Grimaldi (26 years old), the "courier" who went from house to house to collect money and jewels.

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The three were arrested on the orders of Naples investigating judge Giovanni Vinciguerra. A woman from Caserta, who had made her home available as a logistical base for the group, is also under investigation.

The scam: the fake accident and the request for money

The pattern is now sadly well-known. The victim receives a frantic phone call, in which a disguised, tearful voice mimics that of her son: "Mom, I've messed up... I hit a pregnant woman, help me." Then the fake lawyer enters the scene, explaining the seriousness of the accident and the risk of arrest for the young man, "guilty" of failing to provide assistance.

At that point, the demand: nearly 15 euros for a "compensation deposit," to be immediately handed over to a supposed collaborator. But something doesn't add up: the elderly woman, though distraught, begins to suspect and demands a receipt. Faced with her persistence, the scammer threatens to stop the "procedure."

But when the line accidentally goes dead, the woman has time to consult with an acquaintance, who warns her. So, on the second call, the woman asks a key question: "Tell me my son's date of birth." scam collapses and the criminal reacts with hatred: “You must die.”

The Con Man's Disturbing "Trophy"

During the searches, the officers found in the home of one of the arrested men a newspaper article (Fanpage) detailing a previous scam, kept as a trophy. The scammers used the online White Pages to choose their victims, selecting names that suggested their advanced age.

A rampant phenomenon: a cultural and institutional shift is needed

The exposed scam is just the latest in a long series affecting the elderly in Campania and throughout Italy. Victims are often alone, fragile, and fearful. This increasingly dire social problem demands a firm and coordinated response: prevention, awareness, and enforcement.

Tips for defending yourself

Never trust alarming phone calls: especially if they involve urgently needed money.
Always ask for confirmation: make a countercall to the family member involved or to the police.
Don't open the door to strangers: not even if they introduce themselves as lawyers, technicians, or friends of relatives.
Always report any suspicious incident to the police, even if you haven't fallen into the trap.

Seniors' associations and law enforcement agencies continue to promote information campaigns and public meetings. But the role of families and neighbors is also crucial: listening to, protecting, and informing seniors is the first real defense against these vile scams.