Telese Terme – An elderly man from the Telesina Valley fell into the trap of the "fake lawyer" scam, handing over €6 in cash and several gold pieces to a criminal who had convinced him that a family member was under arrest.
The Carabinieri of the Telese Terme station have reported the alleged perpetrator, a man resident in the Naples area, at large, following an investigation that began with the victim's complaint.
The modus operandi used was the classic one for this type of scam: the scammer contacted the elderly person by telephone, posing as a lawyer and creating a sense of urgency.
In a convincing tone, he told the victim that a family member had been stopped by the police and that, to avoid arrest, bail had to be paid immediately. The psychological pressure exerted in the moment pushed the elderly man to hand over the money and valuables without verifying the actual truth of the situation.
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The Carabinieri immediately launched their investigation, focusing on analyzing images recorded by video surveillance systems in the area. The cameras proved crucial: through careful examination of the footage, investigators were able to identify the fraudster, allowing them to file a complaint against him for aggravated fraud.
The Carabinieri investigation is now continuing on two fronts: verifying the existence of other similar incidents linked to the suspect and identifying any accomplices. It is not excluded that the man may have acted as part of a larger organization specializing in this type of scam, which targets elderly and vulnerable people.
The incident is part of a worrying trend of scams targeting the elderly, which are increasingly common in the Campania region. Law enforcement officials recommend being wary of suspicious phone calls and immediately contacting 112 if you receive requests for money related to alleged legal issues involving family members.
Source EDITORIAL TEAM
Comments (1)
It's truly sad that there are people who exploit the vulnerability of the elderly. This fake lawyer scam is a terrible thing and must be stopped. I hope the authorities can bring justice.