Italy police report surge in elderly fraud and digital scams

Italian law enforcement agencies, including the Carabinieri and Polizia Ferroviaria, have reported a surge in various fraudulent schemes targeting vulnerable populations, particularly the elderly.

Common tactics include impersonating law enforcement officers—such as the ‘fake carabiniere’ or ‘fake financier’—to induce fear and extort money, jewelry, or gold. In one notable incident at Roma Termini, a young man was arrested after convincing victims in Pordenone to hand over precious items under the guise of a family emergency. Another attempt involving an 81-year-old woman was thwarted by a vigilant passenger.

Digital and financial crimes are also prevalent. Reports include phone spoofing used to access bank accounts, unauthorized transfers totaling thousands of euros, and online marketplace scams involving non-delivered goods. In one instance, a man used a lost smartphone to access a victim's home banking to pay his own utility bills.

Authorities are using these incidents to urge the public to adopt stricter security measures, such as using biometric authentication on mobile devices and remaining skeptical of unsolicited calls or high-pressure requests for immediate cash payments.