Vasto Sud police thwart highway mirror scam

A 25-year-old man has been reported to judicial authorities after attempting a ‘mirror scam’ on the A14 motorway near the Vasto Sud exit in Italy. The suspect allegedly forced a driver, who was traveling to Belgium with his wife, to pull over at a rest area by claiming his side mirror had been damaged during an overtaking maneuver.

Using aggressive behavior, the individual demanded an immediate payment of 150 euros, threatening the driver with the potential for police involvement and increased insurance premiums. The scam was thwarted when a patrol from the Vasto Sud Highway Police, conducting routine checks, intervened just as the victim was about to hand over the money.

In addition to the criminal report, authorities are considering the implementation of a mandatory departure order (foglio di via obbligatorio) to prevent the individual from returning to the area for a specified period.