GAVIRATE – “Hello grandma, I had an accident and I need money. Please help me”. The phone call, with a tone halfway between desperate and agitated, reached an 89-year-old woman in Gavirate. The elderly woman understandably got alarmed and immediately asked, “But are you Paolo?”. And of course, an affirmative answer came from the other side of the phone.
The elderly woman didn’t fall for it.
However, something didn’t add up for the 89-year-old. So the woman reminded her nephew that she didn’t keep any money at home. If her nephew needed money, he would have to go to the bank. The scammer didn’t give up, saying that there was time, that the money was needed for the next day. At that point, the woman understood that it was a fraud and immediately hung up the phone.
Always call 112.
The elderly woman outsmarted the scammer by showing lucidity and composure. It’s not easy because these criminals are professionals, real con artists and manipulators. Similar scams happen every day. The appeal is always the same: do not give in to requests for money and do not let strangers into your home. In case of doubt, always call 112.
