ROME (ITALPRESS) – Positive the first results of the national campaign against scams against the elderly, launched by the Carabinieri Corps on July 10, which featured – as testimonial – the famous actor Lino Banfi, the “Grandfather of Italy.” The video, which quickly went viral, reads a note from the General Command, allowed the Arma to “enter the homes of Italians” to provide social reassurance, closeness and further strengthen the centuries-old relationship of trust between the institution and the citizen. The initiative, created to counter a worryingly growing phenomenon, has already reaped significant results within a few months of its launch. The over population is beginning to recognize the deceptions, the note emphasizes. In fact, data provided by the Commands of the Arma located throughout Italy show a concrete growth in telephone reports to the operations centers from the elderly. About 7,000 telephone reports have been received by the operating companies in the territory, including about 2,500 since the beginning of the campaign. The reports, combined with the investigative activities carried out by the branches of the Armed Forces, have enabled more than 40,000 people to be reported for scams or computer fraud and more than 1,400 people to be arrested since the beginning of the year. Among the scams carried out by criminals, the note continues, the “fake Carabiniere scam” appears to be widespread. Passing themselves off on the phone as Arma personnel or collaborators, the crooks deceive the elderly, forcing them to hand over money and valuables. For this type of scam since the beginning of the year, about 200 people have been arrested and nearly 3,000 have been referred. The modus operandi spread throughout Italy presents similar patterns throughout the territory, the note points out. Victims are chosen at random, with random phone calls and then contacted by the fake Arma military. The scammers dupe the elderly by inventing alleged traffic accidents suffered by relatives: children, grandchildren, convincing them to shell out sums of money, but also jewelry and watches in order to obtain the relatives’ release. Or showing up directly at the victims’ homes with counterfeit badges, wearing baseball caps or bibs with the inscription “Carabinieri” to extort, even armed, cash and gold items by taking advantage of their lonely state. The constant informational and outreach activities carried out by the Territorial Armed Forces Departments, with particular reference to the Carabinieri Stations that live the communities on a daily basis, representing present and reliable points of reference, continue. In fact, among the peculiar activities of the Station Commanders are: educational meetings with citizens, a circumstance also useful for the distribution of an informational pamphlet on useful tips to prevent the criminal phenomenon; information sharing with the directors of credit institutions and post offices; and collaboration with parishes, media outlets, associations and local institutions to raise awareness of the phenomenon of scams against the vulnerable. – photo Carabinieri press office, meetings with citizens -(ITALPRESS).
