They pretend to be law enforcement officers or lawyers, offering “friendly” transactions to pay fines and damages due to road accidents, but in reality they are unscrupulous scammers who mainly target the elderly.
In recent days there have been numerous complaints presented to the Carabinieri of the provincial command of Agrigento by elderly people who have lost up to 22 thousand euros due to organized and specialized scammers.
The most sensational case occurred in Canicattì: two men, describing themselves as a policeman and a lawyer, pushed a 71-year-old woman to hand over money and gold objects to them with a total value of 22 thousand euros, with the excuse of avoiding legal trouble to the woman’s nephew, accused of a road accident.
It identifies the technique used in Agrigento, where a man, posing as the lawyer of a woman who was the victim of a road accident caused by the daughter of an 85-year-old woman, had the latter deliver the sum of 2 thousand euros in cash and several gold jewels .
In Ravanusa, however, a man, posing as a policeman, induced a 77-year-old woman to hand over 4,000 euros in cash, a ring and a gold necklace, with the excuse of paying a fine for the woman’s son.
Finally, in Agrigento, a man, pretending to be a policeman, induced a 74-year-old woman to hand over 750 euros in cash and various gold jewels to a female lawyer who shortly afterwards joined her at her home, with the excuse of avoiding judicial consequences for the woman’s son, accused of a road accident.
How to avoid scams
The Carabinieri has released a decalogue to know to try to avoid scammers:
1) Don’t open to strangers: never open your gate, door or house door to strangers; always check who is on the other side with the peephole; use the chain if you need to open.
2) Check the identities: a real official of the Municipality, the Post Office, INPS, Inail, gas or electricity technician never shows up at home without warning; do not allow anyone to collect bills or check home payments; Always check the identity of anyone who shows up at your door by asking to see an identification card.
3) Beware of fake employees: real bank employees do not offer home services; Don’t be convinced by anyone who presents themselves as representatives of charitable or religious organizations.
4) Don’t get distracted: be careful of those who try to distract you to steal from you; Don’t be convinced by those who offer you sweets or toys on the street.
5) Protect your assets: never keep large sums of money at home; do not be persuaded to hand over money or jewelery to strangers; do not make cash payments to door-to-door sellers.
6) Trust your instincts: if something doesn’t convince you, don’t hesitate to call 112.
7) Help each other: create a good neighborly relationship; exchange telephone numbers with your neighbors; call 112 if necessary.
8) Participate in awareness-raising initiatives: find out about scams by participating in initiatives organized by the Carabinieri.
9) Be wary of: people who introduce themselves as “gas inspectors” and ask to enter your home to check your appliances. People who introduce themselves as “customer service representatives” and ask you to verify your contract or provide billing information. People who introduce themselves as “carabinieri” or “policemen” in plain clothes and ask you for money or jewellery.
10) The police force never asks for money or jewels at home. Real public service workers never show up at your home unannounced. If in doubt, contact 112.
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