2024-07-29 14:45:02
TRENTO. Here in Trentino, the resurgent phenomenon of scams against elderly people, against which the Provincial Command of the Carabinieri had just launched an alert in recent days, has finally come to a halt. In fact, just yesterday, the Carabinieri stopped and brought to justice two men, an 18 year old and a 51 year old here on the move from Napleswho had evidently made defrauding the weakest their profession.
This time the trap had been set against a 78 year old from Peiobut even more execrable was the obstinacy with which the two criminals attacked their victim, managing to deceive her several times over the course of three days, until the Carabinieri of the Cogolo Station and the Operational Unit of the Cles Company intervened to interrupt the criminal action.
The facts the day before yesterday, in the province of Bergamo, the carabinieri had stopped two individuals (different from those arrested today) found with some jewels and a note with the data of the lady from Peio.
The colleagues from Lombardy immediately contacted those from Cogolo reporting what they had discovered, at this point the Station Commander immediately went to the woman’s home to verify the hypothesis of fraud committed against her.
In this circumstance, the military not only ascertained the fact that the elderly lady, the day before, had actually been contacted by a fake policeman who told her the usual story of the road accident in which the daughter was involved and that at the same time she was asking for a quick collection of money and valuables to be delivered to a “colleague” who would shortly show up at her house, but also that that same morning she had delivered the entire contents of her safety deposit box to another guy, different from the one who had shown up at her house the previous day, always for the same need, that is, to resolve her daughter’s situation.
Only at this moment did the woman understand that she had been defrauded, and she had nothing else to do but report the unknown criminals.
That same evening (July 25th) the poor lady came contacted again by the “fake Carabinieri marshal” which urged her payment of additional 5000 euros telling her to go to the bank the following morning to withdraw the sum and then deliver it to one of his emissaries. This time, following the recommendations given to her that morning by the Station Commander – the real one – the woman immediately noticed the trap and warned the Carabinieri, thus allowing them to organize themselves and to set up a “counter-ambush” for the criminals.
By standing in plain clothes along the route between the house and the bank and pre-alerting the branch manager to mark the banknotes to be given to the woman, The Carabinieri managed to catch the 18-year-old yesterday morning as he approached the womanoutside the bank, to take the envelope with the money and the accomplice who was waiting for him in a car, ready to disappear.
The military is currently investigating to determine whether the couple is responsible for other similar incidents that have occurred in the province in recent days.
The Carabinieri once again underline the need to be wary of anyone who makes requests for money and to immediately report any attempted scams to the Single Emergency Number 112 or by contacting the nearest Carabinieri Station.
Any request for money from a member of the police force would be unfounded and therefore should be absolutely declined.
The two scammers are currently detained in the Spini di Gardolo prison.
2024-07-29 14:45:02