Italian Scammers Arrested for Causing Damage with Sewer Smell

rome - A group of scammers in Italy arrested for tricking customers into fake repairs using sewer smell and causing extensive damage.

Thirteen people have been arrested so far with eleven suspects in custody and two under house arrest. Among the thirty victims who filed complaints, there was a restorer who was about to attend a wedding and a woman who was forced to transfer money while three employees stayed in her house until the transaction was completed.

When customers faced urgent problems and contacted the online advertised company, the workers worsened the situation by deliberately blocking the sewer drainage after asking for an upfront payment of five hundred euros. They would then pretend to struggle in finding the blockage while destroying walls and floors, leading to a sewage leakage that flooded the entire apartment.

If the customers panicked, the same workers would offer expensive interventions to solve the problems. If the victims refused to cooperate, they were threatened with retaliation and violence. Employees were intentionally selected based on their criminal records, with those having severe records having a higher chance of being hired.

The illegal activities generated over a million euros in revenue annually, distributed among the accomplices. The organization expanded its operations to the entire province of Rome and planned to establish in other cities as well. Victims of the criminals ranged from restaurant owners, doctors, lawyers, to elderly individuals facing personal tragedies.

The scammers splurged their earnings on diamonds, expensive watches, and luxury cars. Authorities seized these items along with 100,000 euros in cash. However, their extravagant spending did not align with the income reported to the tax authorities. The suspects are accused of being part of a criminal syndicate focusing on crimes, extortion, and fraud.