PESCARA. Fake ASL operators who use a trick to enter the house and rob the unfortunate person. Phone calls from fake grandchildren, who, managing to disguise their voices, tell their grandparents that they are having trouble getting money to be sent to them. These are some of the scams reported by people over 65, often widowers who live alone, to the operators of the SOS scam listening desks created to provide assistance to the elderly and collect doubts, fears and requests, but also to provide information and suggestions. The branches are part of the “Stop Allegrino” project promoted by the Department of Social Policies and Urban Security of the Municipality of Pescara, financed by the Ministry of the Interior and created by the “Domenico Allegrino” Odv association. As part of a campaign to prevent and combat scams targeting over 65s, various activities were implemented, conceived and implemented by the association.
The first concerns the activation of a toll-free number 800 002082, operating from Tuesday to Friday from 9am to 12pm and from 3.30pm to 6.30pm. The service aims to alleviate the sense of loneliness and fragility of the many elderly people who have suffered a scam or an attempted scam and to give suggestions if necessary. In the four aggregation centers for longevity, in via di Sotto, in via Nazionale Adriatica, in via Stradonetto and in via Cesano, as many listening desks have been created. There is one in those on via di Sotto and via Cesano Anna MichettiWhile Luca Donzelli presides over that of the Nazionale and via Stradonetto. «When these people come to us», says Donzelli, «they are often ashamed to tell their family what happened to them. They have a sense of modesty and do not accept that they have fallen into traps. Most of the time they contact us after filing a complaint, to vent.” Among the episodes collected by the two operators, there are several cases of elderly people who, receiving emails or messages on Whatsapp, opened links which then allowed the scammers to steal all the data. «People», explains Michetti, «see our branch as a safe haven. Not because the police are not considered a point of reference, but because the elderly are often afraid to go and report it, so as not to incur retaliation from those who defrauded them.”
Among the other cases reported, that of a lady who let two fake ASL workers into her house. «She was a retired teacher», continues Michetti, «who told me that after having let these two people into the house, she had noticed the scam, but for fear that they might harm her, she let them act undisturbed. She was so scared that, after filing the complaint and receiving the summons, she didn’t want to go. She confessed this fear to us, but in the end we convinced her.” Other widespread scams include phone calls from fake grandchildren, who manage to extort money by pretending to be ill or having other difficulties. «The scammers», explain the two operators, «have become so specialized that they are able to disguise voices, so many are really convinced they are talking to their nephew».
In addition to the listening activities, which registered contacts even from outside the region, the project saw the creation of a booklet with advice for recognizing a scam and was also distributed in local markets. Among the advice in the guide, do not open the door to strangers, considering that visits by municipal officials or gas, water or telephone line technicians are always announced by an official communication; be careful when withdrawing money at the counters; do not click on links in messages or chats and never communicate personal data by telephone.
Another awareness-raising activity concerned the condominium administrators of the Anaci provincial section. As part of the project, a video was created in which elderly people talk about scams they have suffered or prevented. The film will be screened at assemblies in condominiums and parishes.
