The emergency of scams targeting the elderly continues unabated and is becoming increasingly disturbing. This is not only due to the high number of cases, which continues to grow, but also due to the increasingly younger age of those who commit them.
The latest incident comes from Ischia, where a 16-year-old boy, a repeat offender, was arrested, while in Terzigno the Carabinieri arrested a 43-year-old for a photocopying scam.
Since January 71st, the Carabinieri of the Naples Provincial Command have arrested 36 people for scamming the elderly, reporting XNUMX others. This alarming figure confirms that the phenomenon is on the rise, especially during these summer months, which the military considers a "crucial" period for the resurgence of these crimes.
The Ischia case: "Your daughter has been arrested, bail is required."
He's only 16, but he's already familiar with one of the most sordid scams: the "fake bail for the release of an arrested son." In Ischia, the young man—originally from Melito di Napoli and with a criminal record—contacted an 83-year-old woman, posing as a Carabinieri marshal. He led her to believe that her daughter had been arrested and that urgent funds were needed to free her.
In a panic, the elderly woman agreed to hand over her entire life savings—about 10 euros in cash—along with valuable jewelry. The 16-year-old showed up at her home, collected the loot, and left.
The Carabinieri's intuition and the arrest at the port
When the woman discovered the deception – speaking with her real daughter – she immediately contacted 112. The Carabinieri of the Ischia company began searching for a young man wearing a white T-shirt and Capri jeans, reported wandering near the port.
The police's work paid off: at the Beverello pier, they stopped a young man matching the description. His cell phone contained unequivocal evidence: a WhatsApp chat with a contact named "Arsenio Lupen," a photo of the loot, and a disturbing message: "It's loaded, the lady's worth 100 years." In his pockets was €150, presumably compensation for his role as a "courier."
Repeat offender and on the run from a community
Investigations revealed that the minor had run away from a community, where he was supposed to serve a probationary period for a similar scam committed in Rome just two days earlier, on July 30th.
Before reaching the port, he had stopped at a holiday home, where the Carabinieri found 6.700 euros, a gold brooch, and a dangle earring, which the elderly victim recognized.
Also in the apartment was a 33-year-old Neapolitan man with no criminal record who was charged with conspiracy to commit fraud and receiving stolen goods. The 16-year-old was arrested and transferred to the Colli Aminei reception center.
Terzigno: same technique, another arrest
At the same time, in Terzigno, another alarm triggered the intervention of the Carabinieri. Several residents reported the suspicious presence of a man near an apartment building. Officers arrested a 43-year-old man from the province of Caserta, already known to law enforcement, finding him in possession of €1,000 in cash and jewelry.
Just minutes earlier, a 70-year-old woman had fallen victim to the same scam: a phone call from a fake marshal, a fake arrest of her daughter, and a request for bail.
The man was arrested and the money, along with the valuables, were returned to the victim.
Scams on the rise, even involving minors
The most worrying fact is the increasingly frequent involvement of minors. Very young children, sometimes with criminal records, are used as couriers by criminal groups who organize the scams. This worrying trend makes the need for prevention and awareness campaigns even more urgent, especially among the most vulnerable segments of the population.
Meanwhile, the Carabinieri continue to monitor the area and respond promptly to citizen reports, which often prove crucial in stopping fraudsters in the act. But the phenomenon—especially during the summer months—remains a real social scourge.
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It's true that scams are increasing, and the situation is serious. Even minors are being affected, which is alarming. We need to find ways to better protect the elderly from these situations.
The article highlights a serious problem affecting the elderly, but unfortunately, there's no mention of effective solutions. The data is alarming, and the presence of minors is worrying. Greater attention is needed.