Garda Area Scammers Pose as Police to Scam Hoteliers and Shop Owners

They impersonate Carabinieri when making phone calls to hoteliers, shop owners, artisans, and restaurateurs in the middle and upper Garda area, offering subscriptions to magazines of the force.

They are not military personnel, but fraudsters who, from time to time, claim to belong to the finance police, police, fire brigade, or municipal police.

How to recognize these scams and how to respond

They often offer subscriptions to non-existent magazines or magazines that have nothing to do with law enforcement agencies.

Therefore, be cautious and immediately notify the Carabinieri — simply dial 112 — as soon as you suspect you’ve been targeted by individuals who, after receiving the money, disappear without a trace.