Italian Carabinieri bust multiple scams targeting elderly

The Carabinieri have disrupted a series of fraud schemes aimed at Italy's elderly population across several regions. In the Madonie area, a 46‑year‑old man from Siracusa was arrested after a phone impersonation of a carabiniere led to a threatened robbery of an elderly woman; police recovered jewellery worth about €10,000. Similar operations in Gangi and nearby towns resulted in the same suspect’s detention, highlighting a coordinated effort to exploit vulnerable citizens.

In Condofuri (Calabria), three women posing as caregivers were arrested for stealing cash and gold from an elderly resident, later selling the loot to a jeweller. In Jesi (Marche), investigators charged a 42‑year‑old suspect who pretended to be a marshal and induced an 80‑year‑old victim to transfer €11,700 to a fraudulent account. Authorities in Valmontone (Lazio) issued a public warning after multiple calls in which callers pretended to be police officers and demanded money, urging residents to report such contacts.

All cases underline the Carabinieri’s focus on protecting vulnerable groups from telephone and impersonation fraud, with arrests, confiscations and judicial actions taken to prevent further loss.