Aosta – The old and unfortunately still-present "fake Carabiniere" scheme has returned, but this time the scam quickly closed in on the alleged perpetrator. Last night, in Piazza Chanoux, the city's high-profile meeting place, Carabinieri from the Aosta Company arrested a 29-year-old man, a resident of Naples, caught in possession of a fake ID.
The operation was made possible thanks to the cooperation of citizens. In recent days, several reports from elderly people had alerted law enforcement: a man, posing as a member of the Carabinieri, had allegedly attempted to defraud the victims with standard pretexts—false family emergencies, non-existent checks, requests to withdraw cash or hand over jewelry—to steal their savings.
Patrol personnel have thus intensified checks in the central area. Just last night, officers spotted a man whose description perfectly matched that provided by the elders. Identification was followed by a search, during which the counterfeit document intended to lend him false credibility was found and seized. The investigation, coordinated by the Aosta Public Prosecutor's Office, is now underway to determine whether the man has previously attempted other scams in the Aosta Valley or other regions.
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The incident has brought attention to a criminal phenomenon that exploits the trust citizens place in their uniforms and institutions. The Carabinieri are taking this opportunity to renew their alert, especially for the most vulnerable groups: "Real military personnel never ask for money or valuables, and during checks, they always identify themselves unmistakably. If in doubt, don't hesitate to call 112 immediately to verify."
The arrested man, already held at the Aosta barracks, is expected in court this morning for a hearing to validate his arrest before the preliminary investigations judge. The 29-year-old Neapolitan man will now be sent to prison, pending charges of impersonating a public official, possession of a false document, and attempted fraud.
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