Italian police warn of law enforcement impersonation scams

Italian authorities are warning citizens about sophisticated impersonation scams involving law enforcement. In a recent incident in Camerino, a 47-year-old woman was defrauded of approximately 32,900 euros through a combination of smishing and phone calls. The scammers posed as Carabinieri officers, claiming she was under investigation for suspicious activities at a local post office and convincing her to transfer funds to supposedly “secure” accounts.

Carabinieri from the Tolentino station identified three suspects—a 67-year-old from Palermo, a 31-year-old from Naples, and a 38-year-old from Caserta—who were allegedly the holders of the bank accounts used to receive the stolen money.

Separately, the Polizia Postale has issued an alert regarding fraudulent emails that mimic official police notifications. These emails often use authentic logos, headers, and signatures of high-ranking police officials to intimidate recipients. The messages typically claim the recipient has viewed illegal content and demand payment to avoid criminal proceedings. The Polizia di Stato emphasizes that they never use email to notify individuals of judicial measures or to request payments for fines or sanctions.