Adnkronos (Adnkronos) – There are several episodes, including successful and attempted scams, but the victim who fell into the group’s net – capable of using many “cloned” numbers, one with a Rome prefix, but also that of Minister Crosetto’s staff – is only one. When asked for phantom ransoms to be paid for people – journalists in particular – kidnapped in the Middle East, only one victim paid money, on two different occasions. His name is being kept under wraps, also for investigative reasons.
Chief Prosecutor Marcello Viola, Public Prosecutor Giovanni Tarzia and the Carabinieri of the Investigative Unit are working to block the transfers made to foreign accounts, even if it seems difficult to freeze them. In this sense, all international cooperation channels have been activated to block the money, in particular on a European account.
The scam in which Crosetto's name is used, however, does not seem to be the only one. The Bank of Italy has issued a call for caution. "Some scam attempts have recently occurred that improperly use the name and logo of the Bank of Italy", such as requests for money to free journalists kidnapped abroad, "with the promise of restitution by the Bank of Italy", reads a note from the institute, which is completely unrelated to such requests. "It is recommended not to provide any response and to report the cases to the judicial authorities".