A maxi-operation by the Guardia di Finanza - in collaboration with Ivass - led to thetaking down more than 220 websites that were selling insurance policies online by defrauding customers.
As stated in a statement from the Insurance Supervisory Institute, the Fiamme Gialle are carrying out in these hours "local search, IT and consequent seizure measures against natural persons responsible for fraud online, with which hundreds of citizens have been deceived to whom false insurance policies have been sold".
Users were convinced that they were taking out affordable car, home or boat insurance, but then they found themselves without any insurance coverage.
The investigation, directed by the Milan prosecutor Francesco Greco and coordinated by the deputy prosecutor Eugenio Fusco and the deputy prosecutor Christian Barilli, led to theblackout of 222 sites who offer insurance online contravening the prescriptions imposed by the Private Insurance Code.
Il modus operandi, common to most of the portals identified and used to mislead users "predicted the undue use of the logos of the best-known insurance companies operating in Italy – explains IVASS – and the indication of a counterfeit RUI number (Register of Insurance Intermediaries).
They were also identified 74 people and carried out searches "against the subjects held responsible for the crime of abusive practice of insurance brokerage and aggravated fraud".
