Tourists headed to Italy have one less scam to worry about, thanks to a collaboration between the U.S. Secret Service and the Polizia di Stato, Italy's national police force.
Earlier this year, the law enforcement agencies teamed up to dismantle a scheme targeting travelers booking vacation rentals in Rome through popular travel websites. When the victims arrived, they quickly learned the lodging never existed.
“This case was a great example of how well we can work together across borders, and I think that type of cooperation is so essential,” said Jeffrey Rinehart, the special agent in charge of the Secret Service’s Rome Field Office.
Five-star listings with names such as “Via della Vite” and the “Spanish Steps” were advertised to American tourists and others. The scammers convinced victims to provide their credit card information directly, rather than working through the secure websites.
The victims paid a deposit over the phone and provided the CVV code on the back of the card. In return, they received fake confirmation numbers.
Many victims saved their entire lives for the trip, only to arrive in Italy to find their dream vacation was built on a lie, Rinehart said. In total, the fraudsters stole 600,000 euros ($706,582) during the 2021 scheme, which lasted from April to October, and duped more than 200 Americans.
With scam proceeds, the criminals racked up bills at four luxury hotels in Rome. The fraudsters would arrive in expensive cars and present themselves as wealthy tourists, spending considerable sums on room service, spas and lavish meals.
Their bills were then paid for using the same stolen credit cards gathered from the scheme. In total, the thieves charged more than 93,000 euros ($109,520) at the pricey hotels.
“When we learned of the fraud scheme, we immediately contacted the U.S. Secret Service in the American Embassy to help us investigate and identify the victims living in the United States,” Michele Peloso, Polizia di Stato’s Chief of the First District in Rome, said in Italian.
A total of 20 people were arrested in March and indicted in Italian court with charges including cyber fraud, money laundering, aggravated fraud, misuse of credit cards, identity theft and association in organized crime. Their next scheduled court date is in September.
The mastermind behind the scheme has an extensive criminal history and fled to Brazil. He is facing 6-7 years of jail time in Italy due to his involvement.
“Certainly, the synergy that had been created with the Secret Service was the main reason this case was possible,” said Peloso, who spent 14 months working alongside his American counterparts. This included investigating mobile phones and other electronic devices.
The Secret Service’s network of 19 foreign offices routinely works with local law enforcement agencies to investigate international criminals targeting American victims. The aim is to prosecute these criminals in their home countries.
“This relationship will also be important in the future for the prevention of these types of crimes and to protect the many American citizens who come to Rome for tourism and work,” Peloso said.
Such investigations contribute to the Secret Service fulfilling half of its dual mission, with the other half focused on protection. However, the relationships built through investigations are often relied upon to help coordinate protective security for visiting dignitaries, Rinehart said.
“It is really important to investigate and prosecute cases like this because e-commerce nowadays is really worldwide. There are no borders anymore,” Rinehart said.
Foreign field offices cover large areas that include multiple countries, each with its own rules and jurisdictions. The Rome field office, for example, works with 62 countries, including nations in the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Africa, Rinehart said, adding that many cybercriminals are based in these regions.
“It’s important for Americans and people back home to feel confident when they are doing e-commerce online or using the internet,” Rinehart said. “If we aren’t out here catching the criminals that use those systems or exploit those systems, that would just get out of control.”