Italy alerts public to surge in phone impersonation and online rental scams

In the towns of Meta, Piano di Sorrento and Positano, residents have been receiving phone calls from callers claiming to be a grandson in urgent need of money. One caller shouted “NONNA, NONNA, SONO TUO NIPOTE!” before the victim hung up. Police advise not to provide any personal data or send money, to terminate the call immediately and to report the incident to emergency numbers 112 or 113.

In Olbia, a 40‑year‑old woman was deceived by a fabricated rental advertisement on Facebook. She transferred €700 as a security deposit to an Irish‑bank account after being promised a vacant apartment, and the alleged landlord disappeared. The victim filed a fraud report with the police. Both incidents illustrate a growing pattern of phone‑spoofing and social‑media‑based fraud targeting Italians.