Italian police charge five in €60k online trading scam, plus two in loan fraud

Police in the Veneto region arrested five individuals accused of running an online trading scam that caused a 57‑year‑old Slovak woman living in Verona to lose about €60,000. Investigators said the victims were drawn in through a Facebook advertisement, contacted by a person posing as a financial consultant, and persuaded to download an app called “Amlast” before making multiple bank transfers. The Carabinieri traced the money flows and identified the suspects, who are now under investigation for aggravated fraud.

In Sicily, the State Police filed charges against two men, aged 60 and 57, for a separate online loan fraud that targeted a woman from Catania. The scheme offered a €2,000 loan at a reduced interest rate, required an upfront payment of €400, and then the perpetrators disappeared after receiving the money. The investigation, carried out by the “Borgo Ognina” precinct, used analysis of financial transactions, phone records, and digital evidence to identify the suspects, who have been reported to the judicial authorities.