Online loan fraud in Catania: two men reported by State Police
Two men aged 60 and 57 have been reported for deceiving a woman from Catania with a fake discounted online loan, stealing 400 euros from her.
Fake bank intermediary defrauds Catania woman: two reported
According to questure.poliziadistato.it, the State Police have reported two men — aged 60 and 57, both with previous convictions for crimes against property, resident respectively in Nettuno and Empoli — suspected of committing online fraud against a woman from Catania. The presumption of innocence applies until possible final conviction.
The investigation was initiated by the "Borgo Ognina" Public Safety Police Station following a complaint filed by the victim. The woman reported having seen an advertisement on a well-known social media channel offering a loan at a discounted rate. After entering her telephone number in an online form, she was contacted by a man who presented himself as a bank intermediary.
The man proposed financing of 2,000 euros, with no requirement for a payslip or guarantees. During the conversation, however, he requested an upfront payment of 400 euros to start the process. The woman, believing the proposal credible and convenient, made the requested bank transfer.
Immediately after the transfer was credited, the fake intermediary broke off all contact, becoming unreachable and no longer answering the victim's calls.
Investigators from the Police Station acquired and analysed financial flows, telephone records and IT evidence, thereby identifying the two suspects, who were reported to the Judicial Authority.
The State Police reiterated an invitation to exercise maximum caution with offers of loans or financing advertised online, warning against any request for upfront payment and always verifying the reliability of financial intermediaries before making transfers or communicating personal data.
Source: Google News IT — Crime (it)