BRUSSELS: Police in four European countries have busted a crime gang that has been accused of using young women to siphon elderly Italian men out of their savings. The European Unionlaw enforcement agency said on Friday.
europol Said that the gang was composed mostly of members of a Romanian family and used young women hired as domestic workers to deceive men between the ages of 70 and 90.
The agency said that one of the victims suffered a loss of about 20,000 euros (21,176). Another suffered two heart attacks when a young woman secretly slipped him Valium so that his accomplices could rob his house.
Europol alleged that the gang targeted elderly men who were isolated from their families, mostly in the southern Italian region of Calabria.
The agency said women typically have physical relations with men, then ask for money, often for health problems or on the pretext of helping a sick family member. Some people were blackmailed when they refused.
Europol said the gang managed to earn more than 1 million euros ($1.1 million), and launder money through investments in real estate, cars and gold.
in officers Italy, GermanyRomania and NetherlandsBacked by Europol, the gang swooped in on Thursday, searching 23 homes, arresting 13 suspects and confiscating electronic equipment and documents.
europol Said that the gang was composed mostly of members of a Romanian family and used young women hired as domestic workers to deceive men between the ages of 70 and 90.
The agency said that one of the victims suffered a loss of about 20,000 euros (21,176). Another suffered two heart attacks when a young woman secretly slipped him Valium so that his accomplices could rob his house.
Europol alleged that the gang targeted elderly men who were isolated from their families, mostly in the southern Italian region of Calabria.
The agency said women typically have physical relations with men, then ask for money, often for health problems or on the pretext of helping a sick family member. Some people were blackmailed when they refused.
Europol said the gang managed to earn more than 1 million euros ($1.1 million), and launder money through investments in real estate, cars and gold.
in officers Italy, GermanyRomania and NetherlandsBacked by Europol, the gang swooped in on Thursday, searching 23 homes, arresting 13 suspects and confiscating electronic equipment and documents.