Elderly scammer blundered: "Give money to save her husband," but the elderly woman was a widow: arrested

A man posing as a police marshal calls a 79-year-old woman and tells her, "Hand over your money and jewelry to avoid your husband's arrest for armed robbery." Too bad she's been a widow for years.

It's the beginning of a "traditional" scam – that of fake officials – which, however, this time, was nipped in the bud thanks to the prompt intervention of the Carabinieri of Jesi (Ancona).

The incident dates back to December 23rd. The elderly woman, initially frightened, had given personal information to the self-styled marshal. Then, sensing the deception, she took refuge at her son's house. Meanwhile, the man—a 44-year-old from Naples already known to law enforcement—had rented a car and set off for Jesi to collect the "ransom."

He was uncovered by the Carabinieri Operations and Radiomobile Unit, who were already monitoring the Zipa area to prevent predatory crimes. Having noticed a rental car with a suspicious man inside, the plainclothes officers followed him to the historic center.

The raid took place while the 44-year-old was still on the phone with the victim, asking her to confirm the address so he could withdraw money and jewelry. The Carabinieri interrupted the call and arrested the fake "Colonel Saviani"—as he had introduced himself to the woman—before he could receive anything.

The reconstruction confirmed the dynamics: the man had used the classic telephone technique, posing as a marshal and exploiting the victim's fear to extort valuable goods.

The following day, the Ancona Court validated the arrest and ordered him to remain in the province of Ancona, as well as requiring him to report daily to the Carabinieri station in his home town. These precautionary measures were aimed at preventing the man from carrying out further "fraudulent expeditions," especially during the holidays, a period when this type of crime often increases.