Reggio Calabria: Carabinieri dismantle scam center, among the victims also an elderly disabled woman

Major operation by the Carabinieri in the heart of Naples, where the military of the Provincial Command of Reggio Calabria, with the support of their Neapolitan colleagues, have defeated a scam center which operated in all of Southern Italy. In trouble two criminals, involved in a criminal activity that moved from their base of operations near Porta San Gennaro, starting point for their attacks along the southern peninsula.

The triggering scam and the “fake carabiniere method”

The operation was started by the Carabinieri of Reggio Calabria thanks to a report on a scam happened the last May in San Giorgio Morgeto, small town in the province of Reggio Calabria.

With the classic “fake carabiniere method”, the two scammers had cheated an elderly lady, 100% disabled, convincing her to hand over all the jewels he kept in the house.

To persuade her, they had staged a fake car accident in which her nephew was allegedly involved, and had requested a fake bail to avoid arrest of the young man. Scared and worried about her grandson, the woman gave up her precious memories of a lifetime for a estimated value exceeding 40.000 euros.

The fatal mistake of scammers

What betrayed the scammers was their carelessness during their escape: their car, parked near the home of the elderly woman who had been scammed, was captured by security cameras at a local store. Although the video only showed a partial plate, the Carabinieri were managed to trace the vehicle through cross-analysis of data, checking movements in the area and narrowing down possible suspects.

But it doesn't end there: during the investigation, the military also relied on the testimonies of residents, who had noticed the two wandering around suspiciously in the previous days, probably looking for other potential victims. The fatal mistake was to underestimate the memory of the local community, where new faces do not go unnoticed: the witnesses are managed to provide useful details that helped identify the scammers, trapping them definitively.

Precautionary measures and searches

Based on the evidence collected, the Prosecutor's Office Palmi (RC), led by the Attorney Emanuele Crescenti, obtained precautionary measures for the suspects. During the operation, searches were also carried out in the premises used by the scammers, leading to the seizure of over 10 cell phones and numerous SIM cards registered under fictitious identities, a sign of a possible more extensive network.

Investigations still ongoing

Investigators believe that the criminal activity of the two could only be the tip of the iceberg of a larger organization, and are trying to identify other people involved and additional victims. The investigation is still in the preliminary phase, and the responsibilities of the suspects will be ascertained during the trial.

The Carabinieri's fight against elderly scams: prevention, repression and awareness

The phenomenon of scams targeting the elderly represents one of the operational priorities of the Carabinieri, which for years has been implementing targeted initiatives to protect the weakest sections of the population.

With an integrated approach that unites prevention, awareness and repressive action, the Carabinieri lead information campaigns in senior centers, parishes and through the media, spreading advice to avoid scams. At the same time, thanks to a widespread network of stations and the use of advanced technologies for data analysis, the Arma intervenes promptly to identify and arrest those responsibleThe goal is to protect the elderly, restore their safety, and prevent further victimization.