More elderly people targeted, more shocking phone calls, more money and jewelry stolen through deception. In Rome, the Carabinieri have made five arrests as part of an investigation into a gang based in the Naples area, accused of fraud and extortion against elderly people using the tried-and-true scheme of fake accidents and relatives in danger.
According to the reconstructions that emerged, the group operated with a precise structure, exploiting the victims' fear and the urgency of the moment. An initial phone call was used to terrorize the elderly man, and immediately afterward, the man assigned to show up at the home to collect cash, gold, valuables, and everything else that needed to be taken would arrive.
The gang's switchboard was in Casoria
The network's operational base was reportedly located in Casoria, a hub from which contacts were managed and transfers to Rome were organized. According to online reports, at least 13 incidents were reported between Rome and Livorno, with a total haul of nearly €100.
Among those arrested is Antonio Pestorino. His name appears in another investigative thread from July 2024, concerning a gang that defrauded elderly people in the capital, including by using victims' data stolen from telephone directories. In that context, Pestorino was identified as the group's coordinator, along with other arrested individuals including Alessandro Bara, Luca Pestorino, and Vincenzo Benincasa, while Andrea De Martino was identified as a car dealer.
Then there's Vincenzo Vaccaro, a scam expert. His name was linked in 2022 to an alleged real estate scam involving luxury apartments in Posillipo and, in a separate strand, also to a case involving fake Lottomatica winning tickets. Finally, Carmine Torino was arrested.
According to the investigators' reconstruction, the evidence collected allowed them to outline the existence of an alleged criminal association involving a total of twelve people.
The remaining seven individuals will be served with summonses for preliminary questioning on charges of criminal association and aggravated fraud.
The impression, however, is that investigators have once again turned the spotlight on a well-known criminal network: organized crime syndicates traveling from the Naples area, elderly people targeted, phones used as weapons to incite panic, and debt collectors ready to empty homes and safes in minutes. A ruthless system that continues to recur with the same pattern, changing faces and names but not the final target: vulnerable people, often alone, crushed by the fear of seeing a child or grandchild end up in trouble.
In short
More elderly people targeted, more shocking phone calls, more money and jewelry stolen through fraud.
- In Rome, the Carabinieri have made five arrests as part of an investigation into a gang based in the Naples area, accused of…
- According to the reconstructions that have emerged, the group would have operated with a precise structure, exploiting the victims' fear and the urgency…
- The first phone call was meant to terrorize the elderly man, and soon after, the man assigned to come to the house to collect the…
Key questions
What is the main point of the news?
More elderly people targeted, more shocking phone calls, more money and jewelry stolen through fraud.
Why is this news relevant?
In Rome, the Carabinieri have made five arrests as part of an investigation into a gang based in the Naples area, accused of…
Which detail helps us understand the case better?
According to the reconstructions that have emerged, the group would have operated with a precise structure, exploiting the victims' fear and the urgency of the moment.
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