Elderly man targeted in 12‑hour phone extortion scam in Rome, two suspects arrested

Police in Rome stopped a staged telephone‑extortion plot that kept an 82‑year‑old man on the line for more than 12 hours, pressuring him to withdraw cash. The fraudsters pretended to be Carabinieri officers and claimed the victim’s account needed verification, forcing him to make two cash withdrawals of €2,000 each. After the victim’s bank teller raised questions, the police intervened and coordinated with the victim to trap the criminals. The operation led to the arrest of a 63‑year‑old man from Catania and a 34‑year‑old man from Naples, who are now charged with aggravated attempted extortion, identity substitution and resistance to public officials.