Rome police arrest 38‑year‑old for AI‑driven scam targeting widowed pensioner

Police in Rome arrested a 38‑year‑old man of Campanian origin after he stole €25,000 in cash, jewelry, watches and personal items from a 77‑year‑old widower. The victim was contacted by a caller posing as a Carabinieri marshal, who used an AI‑generated image of the suspect in a uniform to gain trust. While the victim was distracted on the phone, the suspect entered the apartment, claimed to be an officer checking the safety of the victim’s valuables, and took the belongings.

Officers from the I District Trevi‑Campo Marzio intercepted the suspect in the building’s entrance, recovered the stolen items from his suitcase, and returned them to the victim. The investigation, coordinated with the prosecutor’s office, uncovered video calls with other members of the fraud network and the use of sophisticated AI‑generated photos sent via WhatsApp. The suspect has been placed under house arrest while authorities continue to identify accomplices and the technicians behind the phone‑center operation.