Five telephone scam attempts, all failed, were reported to the police yesterday, 12 September, in the province of Vibo Valentia. The scammers passed themselves off as members of the Army or the Financial Police, trying to convince the people contacted to leave their homes or to make valuable objects available.
Fake financiers between Zaccanopoli and Rombiolo
In three episodes, which occurred between Zaccanopoli and Rombiolo, the interlocutors identified themselves as belonging to the Guardia di Finanza and invited the people contacted to go to Tropea. The Carabinieri advised those concerned not to leave their homes, while at the same time activating the territorially competent stations.
In Mileto the pretext of the car used for a robbery
In Mileto, an elderly woman was contacted by a man who introduced himself as a police marshal, claiming that the family car had been stolen and used to commit a robbery. The family members, suspicious of the communication, interrupted the conversation and contacted the force directly.
The Carabinieri reassured the interested parties, recommending not to follow up on the requests, not to provide personal data and not to arrange meetings.
Drapia was asked to check the jewels
The technique used in Drapia is different, where a woman received a phone call from so-called carabinieri who told her that they needed to check the jewels in her possession. The recipient recognized the scam attempt, interrupted the phone call and contacted the police.
The citizens’ reports allowed the operations center to activate all the other police forces present in the territory and in the surrounding areas, arranging the necessary checks through the police stations.
The Army’s invitation: stop the call and contact 112
The force renews its invitation to be wary of phone calls from self-styled members of the police asking for money or jewels or inviting people to leave the home. In case of doubt, the recommendation is to interrupt the conversation and contact 112, preferably with a different device from the one on which the call arrived.