Polistena – The Carabinieri in Polistena have dismantled a gang specializing in scamming seniors using the "fake marshal" technique. Three arrests were made, including a woman, for damages totaling over €75.
The proven technique of telephone scams
The operation stemmed from an incident in January 2025 in Polistena, in the Gioia Tauro plain, where a pensioner had been defrauded. According to the Carabinieri's reconstruction, the criminals began with a phone call from a self-styled Carabinieri marshal, who alerted the victim to a serious car accident caused by a family member. A fake lawyer then arrived, demanding cash or jewelry to "avoid legal consequences."
Arrests and roles in the traveling gang
The preliminary investigations judge of the Court of Palmi has issued pre-trial detention orders for two men and a woman arrested between the provinces of Naples and Verona. The investigation, coordinated by Prosecutor Emanuele Crescenti, has attributed dozens of robberies to the gang in Polistena, Taurianova, and San Martino. The woman, considered the "logistical mastermind," handled car rentals and travel between Campania and Calabria.
In short
Polistena – The Carabinieri of Polistena have dismantled a gang specializing in scamming the elderly using the "fake marshal" technique.
- Three arrests, including a woman, for total damages exceeding 75 euros.
- The proven technique of telephone scam The operation was triggered by an incident in January 2025 in Polistena, in the Piana di…
- According to the Carabinieri's reconstruction, the criminals began with a phone call from a self-styled Carabinieri marshal, who alerted the…
Key questions
What is the main point of the news?
Polistena – The Carabinieri of Polistena have dismantled a gang specializing in scamming the elderly using the "fake marshal" technique.
Why is this news relevant?
Three arrests, including a woman, for total damages exceeding 75 euros.
Which detail helps us understand the case better?
The proven technique of telephone scamming The operation was triggered by an incident in January 2025 in Polistena, in the Gioia Tauro plain, where a…
Important news. It seems strange to me, but it's true: telephone scams will continue to harm elderly people who don't know how to defend themselves. The Carabinieri have responded, but many questions remain as to how the criminals were able to move and operate so freely between provinces.
It's also important to understand the role of the woman described as the "logistics brain," because she apparently organized the rentals and transfers, but it's unclear whether others made the phone calls or if it was a single operations center. Further investigation is needed and the elderly should be protected.