mass-produced truffle in Sao Paulo. The man offered a verse for 500 euros
He lures his victims on social networks by proposing a room to rent in an apartment a two-minute walk from the station St. Paul subway B. A very attractive proposition, especially for those who need to reach the Center in a very short time. Everything seems to be in order: the contact with him takes place in a short time, then there is a visit to the room and, if one likes it, the deal is partially concluded by paying the deposit. Five hundred euros to be sent by bank transfer. It is at that point that the owner of the house, once he has received the money, begins by telephone to whip up excuses after excuses and to put it off indefinitely. Up to disappear without giving the money back. For now, his victims are decided, so much so that some of them have even gathered in a group Whatsapp to try to report this scam to the police all together.
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THE WITNESS
«I was immediately struck by his timeliness – explains Giovanni Nasso, 27, originally from Maratea and who was looking for a room because he signed an internship contract in Rome – After a couple of hours from the contact I went to see the house. At that moment he said he wanted to take at least 20 days before letting me in, justifying himself with the presence of a hypothetical tenant in the house and that he would have to do the work in the kitchen. But he immediately asked for a security deposit of five hundred euros: essentially a month’s rent. He seemed serious to me, also because he wanted a wire transfer. So everything was tracked.” Days, weeks go by, and for Nasso there is no sign of entering the apartment. «We met on September 29 and he promised me that in mid-October he would give me the contract – he adds – The question began to stink me when, after contacting him again, on November 10 he told me that he needed a further postponement for the end of the month». At that point Nasso accepted the delay in order to have the room in a short time. Instead, yet another stop arrives that slows down the intern’s dreams and who, at that point, asks for the money back. “You’ve put me in an uncomfortable situation and I need to fix it immediately,” he wrote to the homeowner. And then, on November 19, he warns him with an “I’m going to report you”. It’s 10.35 pm when he writes to him: «I’m going back to Rome on Monday and I’ll make the bank transfer. But the next time you call, I’ll also report you for stalking.” The moods on Whatsapp conversations become more and more heated as the hours go by. The homeowner tells him: «Tomorrow I’ll report you so if you come near my house they’ll take you away, I’ve already said that I’ll send you the accountant by Monday». It was November 21st. But that wire transfer never went out and the money, therefore, was never returned. The boy, at this point, there is. He presents himself to the carabinieri of the Trastevere station and signs a complaint for fraud. On his social networks he begins to tell his story about him, to warn those looking for a house in Rome to stay away from that apartment in San Paolo. At that point, he receives a complaint: the accusation that the homeowner makes him is that of defamation. But the tam tam on social media brings out many other kids who have had the same story as him. «From July to December I counted dozens of victims and I received reports from other people who know him and who confirmed to us that they stay away from him – continues Nasso – All of this is truly absurd: he used the exact same apologies to everyone and he hasn’t paid anyone back.’
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