Italian police warn of rising bank‑transfer and online betting scams

In the village of San Martino a Ulmiano in the province of Pisa, two women knocked on a resident’s door claiming a bogus Poste Italiane bonifico in the victim’s name. They asked her to show her phone and verify the transaction. The woman refused, and the visitors left in a car. Police advise people not to hand over personal or banking information to unknown callers.

In Senigallia, a 30‑year‑old man was lured by a WhatsApp message from a 27‑year‑old in Messina to join an online sports‑betting platform. Over twenty days he made more than sixty bank transfers totaling about €12,000, never receiving the promised winnings. He reported the case to authorities, who have identified the suspect for aggravated fraud.

Both incidents illustrate a pattern of fraudsters using fake bank‑transfer or betting offers to target Italian citizens, prompting police warnings.