Institutional portal - Municipality of Milan

Deputy Mayor Scavuzzo: “Important investigations, justice done to at least 25 people. Our appeal: in summer maximum attention to those who are more fragile and remain alone at home" 

Milan, July 28 2021 - Erasmo, Ottorino, Nerina: now obsolete names which probably referred to elderly people. This is how the seven fraudsters chose their victims and were convicted by the Court of Milan for the crimes of criminal association aimed at fraud, with the aggravating circumstance of transnationality, and receiving stolen goods, aggravated by the number of competitors. 
 
The arrests and related convictions were made possible by the investigations coordinated by the deputy prosecutor Eugenio Fusco and the deputy prosecutors Cristian Barilli and Giancarla Serafini, and conducted by the Anti-fraud Pool of the Judicial Police Section of the Milan Prosecutor's Office, made up of State Police personnel and the local police. 
 
Following some complaints, the operating staff had discovered, starting from January 2019, the succession of a series of scams perpetrated with a common modus operandi: the victims were contacted by telephone by a person who pretended to be a relative (generally introducing himself such as a child or grandchild) and who asked to borrow money or precious objects, claiming to urgently need them to deal with a serious problem. In some cases, for example, the scammer claimed to be ill (also from Covid in the last year) and that he had to face large expenses to seek treatment; in other cases he instead claimed that he had caused a road accident and that he had to compensate the person hit.   
 
The phone calls were made from foreign users (Poland and Germany, with prefix 0049) and the elderly victim was kept on the phone for a long time, preventing her from checking whether what she had been told was true. She was therefore induced to collect the money and jewels present in the house, the victim then handed them over to an accomplice of the scammer - stationed under her house - who told her that he was in contact with her relative in difficulty (if necessary 
even pretending to telephone him in reassuring tones). Once the money and/or valuables had been withdrawn (or after having accompanied the victim to the bank or the post office), the scammers would disappear and then take action at gold buyers or third-party fences, where they exchanged part of the loot for cash. 
 
Thanks to the cameras installed near the victims' condominiums, the analysis of telephone records, stalking carried out also with the aid of the Traffic Police and the installation of a video camera near the "den" of the fraudsters, located in Rozzano, the personnel of the Judicial Police Section managed to identify several members of the association, which used "switchboard operators" located abroad (who had the role of choosing the names and contacting the victims by telephone) and "tax collectors" operating in Italy (employed to recover money and valuables from victims). The foreign users used for phone calls were then discontinued after each scam. 

“The satisfaction with the work of the Anti-fraud Pool that operates within the Milan Prosecutor's Office is confirmed – comments the Deputy Mayor and Security Councilor Anna Scavuzzo –: important investigations and convictions that bring justice to at least 25 elderly people who are victims of scams. A commitment to combating scams targeting the elderly, which continues decisively, also through the Neighborhood Police, who have received specific training to prevent scams or intervene promptly when reported. In this context, with the arrival of the month of August, we want to make an appeal to the relatives, neighbors and friends of the older people who will remain in Milan to pay maximum attention especially when they are alone: ​​I remember that it is important not never respond to requests for money or valuables and contact 112 if you have any suspicions". 
 
The seven sentences inflicted on the fraudsters, who will have to serve sentences of up to three years and 4 months in prison, represent an important investigative result, which is placed in the context of the activities conducted by the Prosecutor's Office and the Police Forces to protect the weakest groups and, in particular, the elderly. 
 
In this context, the investigation and coordination activity of the Anti-fraud Pool of the Judicial Police Section is constantly strengthened, whose operators, creating a virtuous model of inter-force synergy, aim to dismantle the criminal associations dedicated to carrying out scams on elderly people , with the aim of curbing the spread of this type of crime. 

The Municipality of Milan has also activated the traditional 'Sociality Plan' for the month of August this year too with many activities designed specifically for the elderly who may find themselves alone or in difficulty. 
The activities start on August 3rd and continue throughout the month; to get information and take part you need to call the Municipality contact center on 020202 (open from Monday to Saturday from 8am to 20pm). Through the operators, an appointment will be made for an initial orientation interview and to book your presence at the chosen activities, which will follow precise indications and health safety protocols.