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[CRIME] · Italy, Greece, Cyprus · 21 sources

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Part of situation: Fraud and exploitation of elderly citizens in Europe (2 clusters)

Elderly citizens targeted by rising scams in Italy and Greece

elderly fraud impersonation scams gold theft phishing cybercrime

Authorities in Italy and Greece are reporting a surge in scams targeting elderly citizens, ranging from physical theft to sophisticated digital fraud. In Italy, several incidents involved criminals impersonating Carabinieri or Guardia di Finanza officers to trick seniors into handing over gold jewelry and cash. Notable cases include a theft in Mantova involving €100,000 in jewelry and a failed attempt in Perugia where a 20-year-old was arrested after a 99-year-old woman's domestic assistant raised the alarm.

Digital and financial crimes are also prevalent. In Fabriano, a 23-year-old was charged after allegedly using a hospitalized senior's smartphone to set up unauthorized bank transfers. Other reports include phishing SMS campaigns mimicking Revolut and investment scams in Cyprus and Greece, where victims lost significant sums to fake stock opportunities or fraudulent recovery services.

In response, local municipalities and organizations are launching prevention initiatives. Chieti is opening an anti-fraud desk for those over 65, and various community projects in Catanzaro and San Severino Marche are hosting workshops to educate the public on digital hygiene and recognizing common deceptive tactics.

Entities

Carabinieri · Guardia di Finanza · Italy · Magione · Polizia Stradale di Roma Nord · Polizia di Stato · Rome

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

  • [○ 1 SOURCE] In the Cameri incident, a scammer impersonated a Carabinieri marshal to convince an 84-year-old woman to inventory her jewelry.
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] A 20-year-old man was arrested in Perugia for attempting to defraud a 99-year-old woman. www.quotidianodellumbria.it
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] The Perugia scam involved a caller claiming a grandson was in a car accident to solicit jewelry. www.quotidianodellumbria.it
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] A 39-year-old man was arrested in Cameri for attempted aggravated fraud and impersonation.
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] A 73-year-old man in Ilia, Greece, alerted police to a scam attempt by someone posing as a DEDDIE technician. www.iefimerida.gr
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] A 19-year-old was arrested in Ilia, Greece, during a police operation targeting a fraud attempt. www.iefimerida.gr
  • [● 2 SOURCES] The victim in Cyprus was targeted by a woman speaking Russian regarding oil and gold stock investments. omegalive.com.cy · www.sigmalive.com
  • [● 2 SOURCES] A second scammer in Cyprus promised the victim 280,000 euros in recovered funds to solicit an additional 14,000 euros. omegalive.com.cy · www.sigmalive.com
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] An 86-year-old man in Ilia, Greece, was defrauded of 6,500 euros after being told to leave the cash in a trash bin outside a church. www.larissanet.gr
  • [● 2 SOURCES] A 60-year-old man in Paphos, Cyprus, lost a total of 65,326 euros through online investment and recovery scams. omegalive.com.cy · www.sigmalive.com

Sources

Incidente sull'A1 svela una truffa agli anziani: recuperato l'oro [anagnia.com]
FIANO ROMANO - Truffatori di anziani si schiantano sulla A1: denunciati - Tiburno Tv [tiburno.tv]
Sportello Anti-Truffe Chieti: attivo dal 1° ottobre per over 65 [www.abruzzonews.eu]
Avellino, due arresti per truffa [www.avellinotoday.it]
Truffe agli anziani, a Catanzaro una rete per difendersi e non sentirsi soli [www.calabriainforma.it]
Έπεισαν ηλικιωμένο να αφήσει 6. 500 ευρώ σε κάδο απορριμμάτων έξω από εκκλησία [www.larissanet.gr]
San Severino Marche, al via "Pitino Informa": un ciclo di incontri gratuiti e aperti a tutti [www.marchenews24.it]
Διπλή παγίδα στην Πάφο: Έχασε €65. 326 σε διαδικτυακές «επενδύσεις» - Πώς την πάτησε 60χρονος [omegalive.com.cy]
Finto maresciallo della Guardia di Finanza raggira una 75enne e tenta di rubarle l'oro: arrestato [primabrescia.it]
Truffe agli anziani nel Reatino: 4 arresti tra Magliano Sabina e Borgorose. Recuperati soldi e gioielli rubati [www.rietilife.com]
Revolut, SMS di phishing si mimetizzano tra i messaggi ufficiali [www.tecnoandroid.it]
Si fa prestare lo smartphone e dispone bonifici periodici per 800 euro: scatta la denuncia [youtvrs.it]
Truffe digitali, 'RomagnaBanca' organizza una serata informativa gratuita con gli esperti [www.cesenatoday.it]
Mantova: finti carabinieri truffano un’89enne; arrestata la coppia campana con gioielli del valore di 100mila euro [www.cronachedellacampania.it]
Πύργος: Πήγαν να εξαπατήσουν 73χρονο και έπεσαν στην παγίδα του -Πώς η απάτη γύρισε «μπούμερανγκ» [www.iefimerida.gr]
In trasferta a Brescia per rubare una Porshe: arrestato un pregiudicato di Atripalda [www.irpinianews.it]
Cybercrime: 10 mosse per blindare identità e device [www.notizie.it]
Truffa del finto carabiniere, diecimila manifesti per mettere in guardia gli anziani [www.palermotoday.it]
Fabriano / Bonifici dal conto di un pensionato ricoverato, denunciato un 23enne [www.qdmnotizie.it]
Perugia, tentata truffa a una donna di 99 anni: arrestato 20enne [www.quotidianodellumbria.it]
Ειδήσεις Κύπρος [www.sigmalive.com]