Sant'Antimo: Elderly scammer arrested: he was only 16 years old.

Sant'Antimo – A targeted check in the heat. It's just past lunchtime. The high temperatures have emptied the streets of Sant'Antimo. The Carabinieri of the local station, however, haven't lowered their guard: they're carrying out a special operation to combat scams targeting the elderly, a phenomenon that spikes especially during the holiday months.

The already known scooter and the entrance into the condominium

A scooter pulls up on Corso Europa. A 16-year-old is on board. He parks. The officers, already familiar with the vehicle, observe every move. The boy enters an apartment building. After a few minutes, he comes out. His attitude is unconvincing: he looks around and walks briskly toward the scooter.

He barely has time to leave when the police stop him.

The classic "fake nephew" call. The dynamics are now well-known. An accomplice, over the phone, had pretended to be the victim's nephew and demanded €1.900 to "unlock a package." This time, however, the 74-year-old woman didn't fall for the trick and didn't hand over any money to the young man.

The complaint and the role of awareness campaigns

The woman immediately reported the incident to the police. She stated that she had not given anything because she was aware of the scammers' techniques, thanks to awareness campaigns conducted by law enforcement. The 16-year-old was charged and will face charges of attempted fraud.

Why scams targeting seniors increase (and intensify) during the summer holidays

The summer holiday season has long been one of the most vulnerable times for those over 65. With children, grandchildren, and relatives away on vacation, many seniors are left home alone. Scammers exploit this solitude and the reduced surveillance of neighbors. According to estimates cited by local sources and based on data from the Ministry of the Interior, over 70% of scams targeting seniors occur during the summer months.

The most common mechanism remains the "fake nephew scam" (or a family member in need): a phone call in which an accomplice pretends to be a relative in need and asks for urgent money, often under the pretext of a package needing to be unlocked, a deposit, or an accident. Seasonal variations are added to this classic technique. In 2026, for example, the phrase "When are you coming to the beach?" became widespread, used to glean information about vacations and construct a more credible story.

The overall figures confirm a worrying trend: victims over 65 have increased significantly (around 15% in recent surveys), with thousands of reports filed each year and a particularly high incidence of telephone scams. In some areas, including Campania and Naples, there is also a growing involvement of minors as "couriers" or perpetrators, while law enforcement agencies are intensifying targeted operations during the months of July and August.

Law enforcement awareness campaigns are working: more and more seniors are recognizing the trap and refusing to hand over cash. However, prevention (don't open the door to strangers, always check with a family member, and immediately call 112) and a constant presence in the area remain essential.