Naples, scams targeting seniors across Italy: the gang was led by a 22-year-old and a minor

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Naples: Scams against the elderly throughout Italy. The gang was led by a 22-year-old and a minor. 2026 06 30

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Naples – A structured criminal organization, capable of striking across Italy, but led by very young minds, some of them adolescents. This is the scenario revealed by the latest investigation by the Naples Flying Squad, coordinated by the Nola Prosecutor's Office, which led to the arrest of six people on charges of aggravated fraud against the elderly.

At the top of the pyramid were a 22-year-old man, Salvatore Giordano, and a minor. The two managed every stage of the scam: from the careful selection of victims to the administration of the call centers from which the decoy calls were sent, to the selection of the most suitable "traveler" to send to the location to collect the money and jewelry.

The fake roles and the modus operandi

The plot was well-tested and played on the victims' closest loved ones. On the phone, the minor often introduced himself as "attorney De Marco," ready to ask for money to resolve a relative's fictitious legal problem, while Giordano played the role of "Marshal De Santis." In many cases, the minor himself personally called the elders to initiate the deception.

A key role was played by the couriers tasked with recovering the stolen goods. Among them, the presence of a second minor was also identified, whose whereabouts are now being investigated by the Naples Juvenile Prosecutor's Office.

A very low average age

What's striking to investigators is the predominantly very young age of the gang members. In addition to the two minors and twenty-two-year-old Giordano, the precautionary measures also targeted Salvatore Panico (19), Gianluca Sasso (20), and Giuseppe Russo (26). The only older individuals identified from the investigation are thirty-four-year-old Zelko Savic and sixty-one-year-old Giuseppe Patierno.

State Police investigations have so far documented just under twenty heists carried out across the country, outlining a veritable holding company for the scam that traveled from North to South to plunder the savings of the most vulnerable segments of the population.

Topics

Chronicles of Campania

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What to know

Key points about senior citizen scams in Naples

Here is a summary of the main aspects that emerged from the investigation into the gang of fraudsters.

Criminal organization: The gang was structured and operated throughout Italy.
Young people in command: The group was led by a 22-year-old and a minor.
Modus operandi: They used deceptive phone calls, pretending to be lawyers or members of the police.
Targeted victims: The victims were mainly elderly people, carefully chosen.
Arrests made: Six people were arrested, including two minors.