NNaples – Carabinieri from the Castello di Cisterna Company have dealt a heavy blow to the scourge of scams targeting the elderly, arresting three men believed to be responsible for a vast criminal conspiracy.
The gang operated from a base in the Neapolitan neighborhood of Ponticelli, using the “fake family” technique to extort money and valuables from its victims.
Acting on behalf of the Public Prosecutor's Office, law enforcement officers executed a pre-trial detention order issued by the preliminary investigations judge of the Court of Naples at the request of the Prosecutor's Office. The three suspects, aged 32, 38, and 26, are seriously suspected of criminal conspiracy to commit fraud against elderly people.
The “Mom, I made a mistake” tactic
The investigation conducted by the Carabinieri, coordinated by the Naples Public Prosecutor's Office, yielded serious evidence of guilt. The gang used the tried-and-tested technique of "fake family members" or "fake lawyers," staging dramatic phone calls in which they claimed the arrest of a child or relative and the need to post urgent bail for their release.
The investigative activity has documented well 36 scams committed against as many elderly victims residing in the provinces of Naples, Benevento, and Avellino. The estimated turnover is around one hundred thousand euros in cash, in addition to numerous gold and jewelry trinkets.
The criminal syndicate was well-organized: a "first operator" who acted as promoter and organizer, a "second operator" who managed the group, and a "traveling individual" responsible for physically visiting victims to collect money and valuables. Their base of operations, a makeshift call center, was located in an apartment in Ponticelli.
During the course of the investigation, i Carabinieri and the Prosecutor's Office managed to recover money, jewels and valuables, which were returned to their rightful owners.
Please note that the order executed is a precautionary measure issued during the preliminary investigation phase. The suspects are presumed innocent until a final sentence is handed down.
Article published by Giuseppe Del Gaudio on July 23, 2025, at 07:30 PM
Comments (2)
It's truly shocking how widespread these scams are, especially targeting the elderly, who are more vulnerable. It would be important to provide more information to prevent similar situations. Safety must be a priority.
I read the article and it seems like the authorities are doing a good job in combating scams. However, there's still much to be done to protect older people and raise awareness of these dangers.