Andrea Innocenti A series of scams targeting elderly people ended with an unexpected discovery: the proceeds had been packaged in mail and sent under a false charity heading. The operation, coordinated by a gang based in Naples, involved several cities in Northern Italy, from Modena to Bergamo, via Piedmont.
The fake policeman scam: from the phone call to the delivery
The modus operandi begins with a phone call from a person posing as a police officer . The call is intended to scare the victim's husband away, prompting him to go to the station for a supposed license plate check. Meanwhile, an accomplice shows up at the elderly woman's home posing as a court technician or expert.
In a reassuring tone, he persuades the woman to hand over cash and jewelry, claiming they are needed to "defend" her husband from legal trouble. The scam ends with the scammers escaping, making off with the loot without leaving any immediate trace.
The loot changes hands: postal shipments with a fake non-profit organization
After collecting the jewels and cash, the criminals adopt a novel technique: they pack the treasure in postal packages and send it to a fictitious recipient.
To evade detection, the senders used the name of a supposed children's charity, labeling the box with the words "Toy Donation." The package also concealed two real pistols—a .357 Magnum and a .22 caliber—stolen during a previous robbery in Piacenza, mixed with several toy guns.
The four matches: Savignano sul Panaro, Casazza, Borgone Susa, Farini
The investigations allowed the reconstruction of four separate shipments, all departing from locations in Northern Italy: Savignano sul Panaro (MO), Casazza (BG), Borgone Susa (TO), and Farini (PC). Each package, weighing approximately 5 kg, contained the entire stolen goods from a single scam. The postal system was deceived by the name of the fictitious non-profit organization, allowing the culprits to move the loot without arousing suspicion.
Naples Carabinieri Investigations: Seizures and Restitutions
The Operations Unit of the Naples Central Company intercepted the four shipments and recovered all their contents. 543 grams of gold jewelry and €16.730 in cash were seized , along with two real pistols. The items, many of which have sentimental and historical value, will be returned to their rightful owners. Authorities have begun investigations to identify the network's members, who appear to operate from Naples to small towns in the north, exploiting the vulnerability of elderly victims and the ease of mailing.