He persuaded an elderly man to transfer 25 euros: the money was recovered and returned to the pensioner.

The case involving a pensioner over seventy-seven, a widower and resident of Casalbuttano, who was targeted by a cyber scam in May 2025, ended with the full recovery of his savings.

The elderly man had received a text message on his phone reporting a suspicious payment. Concerned, he called the number listed in the text, ending up in the hands of a fake digital services operator who, through a carefully planned procedure, put him in touch with a self-styled Carabinieri officer serving in Cremona.

The fake soldier, exploiting the victim's fear, had convinced him to transfer 25 euros to a bank account designated as "safe", assuring him that the money would be returned after the necessary checks.

Blocking bank transfers saves savings

Moments after arranging the transfer, the pensioner realized he had been scammed and immediately went to his bank. The prompt notification allowed the transaction to be blocked, keeping the sum on hold and preventing it from ending up in the hands of the scammers.

At the same time, a complaint was filed with the Carabinieri of the Casalbuttano station, who began technical investigations to reconstruct the route of the money.

A 24-year-old from the province of Naples has been reported.

By analyzing the IBAN used for the transfer, the Carabinieri were able to trace the account holder: a 24-year-old resident of the province of Naples, already known to law enforcement, who had been reported to the judicial authorities on charges of attempted fraud.

The Court orders the restitution of the sum

The administrative and judicial process concluded in recent days. On July 21, 2026, the Court of Naples ordered the full refund, allowing the Carabinieri to notify the pensioner and return the €25.

This case demonstrates how prompt reporting of scams and cooperation between citizens, banks, and law enforcement can be crucial in preventing scammers from stealing victims' savings.