Monitor this situation.
Unsubscribe anytime.
[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [CRIME]
3 clusters · 10 sources · 5 days · First seen · Last updated
Digital crime and victimization in Italy
Overview
Reports from 2026 indicate a significant rise in various forms of digital crime and victimization in Italy.
Data from the Crif Observatory shows that Italy ranks third globally in the number of accounts stolen and distributed via infostealer malware, following only the United States and France. This theft involves the trade of billions of pieces of sensitive data on the dark web, facilitated by phishing, smishing, and vishing campaigns. There are also growing concerns regarding the use of artificial intelligence and deepfake technology to bypass defenses.
Separately, an investigation by Eurispes identified cyberstalking as the most prevalent digital crime in the country, with 28.2% of digital users reporting incidents. Other frequent offenses include privacy violations and attempted grooming through false identities. Research from the University of Turin further notes that victimization rates among students are high and linked to increased anxiety and depressive symptoms.
Recent incidents highlight a trend in digital extortion and social media hacking. In one case, two individuals face charges for a blackmail scheme where suspects allegedly used a fake profile to obtain explicit photos from a victim before demanding money under threat of release. In another instance, journalist Umberto Chiariello reported being hacked by a Turkish student who stole his social media profiles and demanded payments ranging from 400 to 200 euros to restore access. Chiariello expressed frustration regarding the difficulty of resolving such identity theft and professional losses through platforms like Meta.
Entities
Eurispes · University of Turin · Salerno · Umberto Chiariello · Sinalunga
Timeline
-
[CRIME] 2 sourcesItaly sees rise in digital extortion and social media hacking
Two separate extortion cases in Italy involve digital blackmail: one involving fake profiles and explicit photos, and another where journalist Umberto Chiariello was hacked and targeted for ransom.
-
[CRIME] 2 sourcesCyberstalking emerges as most prevalent digital crime in Italy
A Eurispes study reveals cyberstalking is the most common digital crime in Italy, affecting 28.2% of users, followed by privacy violations and identity-based grooming attempts.
-
[TECHNOLOGY] 5 sourcesItaly ranks third globally in dark web data theft
Italy ranks third globally in dark web data theft, following the US and France, as 2.5 billion pieces of sensitive data were stolen in the first half of 2026 via malware and AI-driven scams.
Sources
amiatanews.it · calcionapoli24.it · confesercenti.it · cronachemaceratesi.it · giuseppecaprotti.it · hackerjournal.it · jobsanita.it · leurispes.it · salernotoday.it · tecnoandroid.it
This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history