Recently, the Milan police dismantled a telecom fraud ring. The gang used email to defraud an Italian man of nearly 120,000 euros.
A few months ago, an Italian man living in China received an email saying he was facing a lawsuit on suspicion of cyber child pornography, Italy Today reported. However, if a fine of 7,800 euros is paid, the case can be dismissed before the trial begins.
The email appeared to be an official notice from the Italian Post Police and was also signed by an officer. But in fact the officer has long since retired.
Fearing the impact of such accusations on his reputation, the man chose to pay a "fine".
Italian Post Police website
Soon after, however, he received another email stating that he had to pay more fines according to the "Court of Appeal" ruling. Forged judicial documents were also attached to the mail.
In the following time, the man in China was constantly entangled with the Italian "judicial department", and made several payments to find peace.
It wasn't until a few months later that he realized he might have been the victim of a scam. So he contacted the Milan Post Police to file a report. By this time, he had already paid 117,500 euros.
Pixabay network
The Milan police, coordinated by the Bergamo Public Prosecutor's Office, carried out an investigation and discovered a criminal gang operating mainly in the Bergamo region.
The police have fully ascertained the personnel structure of the gang and the methods of fraud, and confirmed that the gang used "money mules" to launder money and receive and transfer money obtained from fraud.
Recently, the Italian police took control of 12 suspects, including 1 Italian, 1 Senegalese, and 10 Nigerians.
Italian Post Police Facebook
The Italian Post Police reminded that there are many kinds of fraudulent emails, but they basically ask the victim to pay a "fine" at the end of the email.
The police stressed that under no circumstances will official notices, judicial or administrative documents (e.g. notices of fines) be sent by e-mail, let alone telephone notifications, even if they appear to be from real numbers.
In fact, criminals can use web technology to modify sender's email address and caller ID at will.
Any e-mail with the logo of the Italian National Police and its specialized units, whether or not in conjunction with the logos of other authorities, shall be considered as an absolute fake, and that these e-mails are fraudulent or for other nefarious purposes.
(Yi Yi Original, Editor: Shu Liao, Translation: Emma, see the label for the picture source, please indicate Yi Stew: oushitalia for reprinting)