Two probed over Crosetto fraud case

(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 13 - Two people are under investigation in a probe into an alleged gang that targeted high-profile Italian business owners to pay bogus ransoms for purportedly kidnapped journalists in the Middle East using the AI-generated fake voice of Defence Minister Guido Crosetto to lend credence to their scam, judicial sources in Milan said Thursday.
    According to the State Attorney's Office in the Lombardy city, the pair are foreign citizens.
    The investigation is coordinated by State attorney Giovanni Tarzia and Milan chief prosecutor Marcello Viola and carried out by Carabinieri police.
    Investigators were able to block a Dutch bank account where they found nearly million euros paid to the scammers by Milan oilman and ex Inter president Massimo Moratti, one of the victims.
    On Monday, the Caprotti family, owners of the Esselunga supermarket chain, joined the Aleotti family, owners of the Minervini pharmaceuticals group, firearms manufacturing dynasty Beretta, and Moratti in filing a criminal complaint against the alleged gang that targeted them.
    Morati was the only one of the four who actually paid out money.
    Milan prosecutors said they were investigating the possible crime of forming an organised-crime group.
    Investigators believe other victims may have paid the gang.
    The alleged criminal organization also reportedly contacted fashion legend Giorgio Armani and Prada CEO Maurizio Bertelli, among others. (ANSA).