Esselunga Joins Legal Battle Against Alleged Ransom Scam Group

Milan: The Caprotti family, owners of the Esselunga supermarket chain, on Monday joined the Aleotti family, owners of the Minervini pharmaceuticals group, firearms manufacturing dynasty Beretta, and Milan oilman and ex-Inter president Massimo Moratti in filing a criminal complaint against an alleged gang. The group allegedly targeted them 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.

According to Ansa News Agency, Moratti was the only one of the four who actually paid out money, almost one million euros. Milan prosecutors said they were investigating the possible crime of forming an organised-crime group. They also mentioned that other victims might have paid the gang.

The alleged gang also reportedly contacted fashion legend Giorgio Armani and Prada CEO Patrizio Bertelli, among others.