The scammer who targeted the elderly by pretending to be a carabiniere has been arrested. He is a 30-year-old from the Naples area who was served with a pre-trial detention order in prison. The order, issued by the judge for preliminary investigations of the Avellino Court, was carried out by the Carabinieri of the Avellino Company. He is accused of deceiving several victims between last May and June.
The scams took place in six municipalities: Salza Irpina, Lapio, Altavilla Irpina, Contrada, Mercogliano, and Capriglia Irpina. The investigation, coordinated by the Avellino Prosecutor’s Office led by prosecutor Francesco Raffaele and conducted by the Operational Section of the Avellino Carabinieri, with support from the Altavilla Irpina Station, made it possible to reconstruct several episodes that occurred between May and June 2026. According to the Carabinieri, the 30-year-old was involved in a series of scams carried out in the municipalities of Salza Irpina, Lapio, Altavilla Irpina, Contrada, Mercogliano, and Capriglia Irpina. The method was always very similar and linked to the now sadly well-known ‘fake carabiniere’ technique. The victims were contacted by phone by people falsely claiming to be law enforcement officers. Over the phone, they were told about non-existent legal issues allegedly involving a relative, with the aim of creating fear and concern. At that point, the elderly were made to believe it was necessary to hand over money or valuables to resolve the supposed emergency. Shortly after, a man would arrive at the victim’s home, again posing as a law enforcement officer, to collect the requested items. The tally of the reported incidents is particularly severe. The scammers managed to obtain cash, numerous pieces of jewelry, and other valuables, for a total value of several tens of thousands of euros. To identify the 30-year-old, investigators sifted through various pieces of evidence collected during the investigation. In particular, images from public and private surveillance cameras in the affected areas were acquired and analyzed.
These were supplemented by analyses of telephone traffic data and cell tower connections, photographic identifications, and testimonies collected by investigators. The cross-referencing of these different investigative elements made it possible to reconstruct the suspect’s presence at the locations and times coinciding with several of the reported incidents. The findings also revealed further evidence that, when evaluated as a whole by the investigators, contributed to outlining a serious case against the 30-year-old. He was therefore served with the pre-trial detention order in prison, issued by the investigating judge of the Avellino Court. Scams targeting the elderly are an increasingly widespread phenomenon. For this reason, the Carabinieri urge people to be vigilant. It is important not to trust strangers, whether on the phone or at the door, and never to hand over money, jewelry, or other valuables.
Real Carabinieri do not ask for money to solve legal problems or help a family member. One should also be wary of phone calls in which supposed children or grandchildren claim to be in trouble and urgently request money.
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