Italian police charge woman over WhatsApp 'dancer' fraud

Polizia di Stato agents from the Pachino commissariat have filed charges against a woman residing in the province of Rome for fraud, illegal access to an information system and identity theft. The investigation began after the victim reported that her WhatsApp account had been hijacked and used to solicit money from friends and family.

The scheme, dubbed the “truffa della ballerina,” involved a fake message inviting the victim to vote in a dance competition. The link required the victim’s phone number and an SMS verification code, which gave the scammers control of the account. Using the compromised profile, they sent fraudulent requests, leading a relative of the victim to transfer €395 to a designated account. Police traced the payments and identified the suspect, who was already known to authorities.

Authorities warned the public to avoid clicking on unsolicited links and never share verification codes or personal credentials, even when requests appear to come from acquaintances.