An elderly woman in Pago Vallo Lauro was allegedly defrauded on 16 June by people using the so-called "fake marshal" method, according to a report by IrpiniaNews. Three suspects were later placed in pre-trial custody in prison on suspicion of aggravated fraud.
According to the report, the victim, a woman over 80, was first contacted by someone pretending to be her grandson and then by someone posing as a Carabinieri marshal. Persuaded by the callers, she reportedly handed over 1,200 euros in cash along with gold, diamonds and jewellery described in the article as weighing approximately two kilograms.
The account says a family member arrived while the episode was still unfolding, before the alleged perpetrators could also take a gold necklace. One suspect then left in a vehicle driven by an accomplice, the report states.
Investigators from the Lauro State Police station traced the vehicle and identified the alleged suspects using surveillance footage from the victim's home and from public and private cameras, according to IrpiniaNews.
The article reports that three men from Acerra and Scampia were placed in custody in prison following a request by the Avellino Prosecutor's Office and a decision by the court in Avellino. The reported accusation is aggravated fraud exploiting the victim's diminished ability to defend herself.
The suspects remain accused and have not been found guilty by a final judgment. The account is based on local press reporting; names were not provided and some details, including the precise weight and value of the jewellery, remain approximate.
