Vatican scammers searched for owners of companies in financial difficulties and offered them favorable loans. The money was supposed to come from a Vatican bank or from the non-existent company “Eurozone”. To confirm that they represent the Vatican bank, the thieves disguised themselves as cardinals. They bought their costumes in stores intended for clergy in the Vatican. This was not surprising for the sellers, as it often happens that the family’s clothes are bought as a gift. Nobody demanded an official confirmation of belonging to the clergy.
To make the story more credible, members of the gang of thieves made arrangements with potential victims in the vicinity of the Vatican. According to the newspaper Il Messagero, they also created a false notary office in one of the premises, which made their clients believe that the business was legal. The members of the gang did not require personal financial guarantees to pay out the alleged loan. In return for borrowing money, they demanded a certain amount to be paid in advance. They described it as “bona fide money.” After receiving it, they usually disappeared.
The case came to light when police arrived at hotels that had been defrauded in 2017. Uniforms conducted an investigation, as a result of which, over several years, they discovered at least 20 different scams worth almost 1.7 million euros.
Vatican. The crooks had lost their own method
The members of the swindling gang were caught trading Angels and Martyrs in Saint Mary’s Basilica in Piazza Esedra in Rome. There, the gang arranged a meeting to collect 15,000. euro, as a loan guarantee in the amount of 500 thousand. euro. When a group of fraudsters tried to leave the basilica through the back door, they were arrested by policemen dressed as priests.
(Source: KAI)
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