On the surface, they appear to be polite, pure people with a clear language, so much so that they manage to reassure others – almost always a elderly – and help him in the most complex family matters. Men, sometimes even women, well dressed and able to glean information from the victim chosen for the coup and ready to deceive them by putting pressure on their most intimate sphere: love for a child or grandchild. The other day an elderly woman suffering from the onset of Alzheimer’s fell into the trap of a 28-year-old who pretended to be a police sergeant and extorted 50 thousand euros in jewelery and cash from her. She, together with her two accomplices – yet to be identified – had told her that her daughter had hit a woman with her car, causing a fracture of her femur. Too bad that sometimes it’s not enough: there is also a girl who is a victim of the mirror scam. The woman said on her social media that months ago a man “riding his scooter, in his forties, with an olive complexion and a strong Roman accent” forced her to stop because he was guilty of having caused damage to her motorbike. A real bluff, like many happen along the Roman roads and fortunately the young woman did not fall into the trap and ran away. Some criminals return home with a nice nest egg (even 300 euros), others certainly empty-handed but with the awareness of having taken advantage of a vulnerable person. From the collisions caused, to the broken mirrors, to the money required to fill up with petrol and even to the nice boy who shows a colored cord on the shoulder of the American visitor, as a symbol of friendship. The bracelet with a thousand shades is actually a perfect alibi to ask for a generous offer in exchange for the “souvenir”. And all it takes is a moment of distraction for the tourist on duty and an accomplice comes out of nowhere to rob him of his wallet. A long trail of scams that have targeted not only the suburbs, but also areas in the heart of the city.
Rome, scams an elderly sick woman with the fake marshal trick: 26-year-old betrayed by the video on social media
The map of tricks and the identikit of the criminal
Different modus operandi, yes, but all with a single intent: to steal money or other expensive objects from the victims (through deception). It’s difficult to draw up an identikit of the classic crook: according to the police, they can act alone or in pairs. They are not violent subjects, on the contrary they are skilled with words. The script is now more than consolidated: they can come to knock on the doors of homes disguised with uniforms similar to those of local police officers. “A security check,” they say. In reality the goal is to inspect the house for gold and cash. In short, recognizing them is increasingly complex because they are far from the stereotype of the ugly and bad criminal: they are identical to any person. On the subway or on the bus, women, above all, wear large duvets to cover their hands at the time of theft. Line 64 is the most looted one: the ride from San Pietro station to Termini sees a series of petty thieves lined up who mix in the crowd of passengers waiting to carry out the theft. A carousel of thefts against lonely and defenseless people. Terribly humiliated so much so that they refuse to report the scam.
How to protect yourself from scams, advice
According to a survey carried out by volunteers of the AncoS Aps civil service, out of approximately 9,800 citizens interviewed (over 65 years of age), approximately 50% of scam attempts are successful, but only 47% of elderly people report the scam happened. A large social emergency has been defined by Anap, the association of the elderly and pensioners of Confartigianato which every year promotes the awareness campaign against scams “Safer Together”. In every single situation it is always advisable to discard drastic solutions and requests for help work. In case of one phone call It is essential for a fake bank officer not to provide personal information over the phone, including credit card numbers. In crowded streets, if our signature is asked for a petition and a generous donation to an organization, in most cases it is always advisable to respond with a firm “No”. In all reported cases, the best solution is to call the police. Maximum attention also to passengers arriving at the station (or airport) and with suitcases in hand ready to get into the first taxi to rush to the work appointment. Many pass themselves off as regular, but some are illegal. A price list is displayed on the taxi with the costs of luggage and the price of journeys in the city and outside the ring road. It is recommended to get into white taxis with the Roma Capitale logo: no attempt to extract money, but the certainty that you will arrive at your destination and the amount to be paid will be as established by the taximeter. It can happen – albeit rarely – that the holidaymaker who comes to Rome for a weekend of culture and leisure finds himself paying an inflated bill in a bar. Wallets in hand, but before taking cash or debit cards, it is useful to check the receipt and note if dishes that were actually not consumed have been charged. If the price is excessive, you must inform the owner of the restaurant. And little confidence in those who sponsor or give away free tickets for live evenings and/or entry into nightclubs. «Trust me, it really deserves it», but cheating is almost often just around the corner.
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