Gabriele Andreozzi

Full Report

Key Points

• Involvement in Telecom Fraud: Gabriele Andreozzi is implicated in a major telecommunications fraud in Milan, Italy, involving unauthorized activations of premium services (VAS) on Wind customers’ accounts, resulting in illicit profits estimated at 99 million euros between 2017 and 2019.

• Role in Fraudulent Operations: As a key figure in one of the implicated companies, Andreozzi admitted to using lists containing hundreds of thousands of Wind phone numbers to activate services without user consent.

• Legal Consequences: He is one of 33 individuals investigated for charges including fraud, identity theft, and attempted contractual extortion. The investigation led to significant seizures, including 19 million euros from content service providers and 21 million euros from WindTre.

• Systemic Issues: The fraud exploited regulatory loopholes, using “zero-click” malware and deceptive practices, affecting both individual consumers and machine-to-machine (M2M) SIMs used in devices like elevators and boilers.

• Regulatory Impact: The investigation prompted action from Italy’s communications authority (Agcom), which introduced stricter regulations in January 2021 to curb such practices.

Overview

Gabriele Andreozzi is an individual associated with a telecommunications company implicated in a large-scale fraud scheme in Milan, uncovered by the Milan Prosecutor’s Office in 2020. The scheme involved multiple companies, including content service providers (CSPs) and technological hubs, orchestrating unauthorized activations of value-added services (VAS) such as weather updates, ringtones, and horoscopes. Andreozzi’s role was significant, as he was responsible for managing one of the companies central to the fraud, which used lists of phone numbers to activate services without user consent. The operation targeted Wind (now WindTre) customers primarily but also involved scrutiny of Vodafone and TIM. The fraud, active from at least 2009, peaked with 30,000–40,000 daily unauthorized activations in spring 2020, generating substantial illicit revenue until the investigation disrupted operations.

Allegations and Concerns

• Fraud and Identity Theft: Andreozzi is accused of participating in a sophisticated fraud scheme that used “zero-click” malware to subscribe users to premium services without their interaction. This involved accessing and misusing customer data, constituting identity theft.

• Unauthorized Service Activations: He admitted to using two to three lists, each containing hundreds of thousands of Wind phone numbers, provided quarterly by associates Cresti and Affinito of Pure Bros, to activate services.

• Targeting Vulnerable Systems: The scheme exploited M2M SIMs used in automated systems, which lacked user oversight, to generate revenue without detection.

• Association with Questionable Entities: Andreozzi’s company had ties to Pure Bros and Evolution People SRL, both linked to the fraud, and worked under the influence of former Wind executive Luigi Saccà.

• Regulatory Evasion: The operation thrived due to inadequate oversight by telecom operators and regulators, with companies acting as both service providers and compliance hubs, creating conflicts of interest.

Customer Feedback

No direct consumer reviews of Andreozzi as an individual are available, as the investigation focuses on the broader fraud scheme rather than personal interactions. However, the impact on consumers provides insight into the scheme’s reception:

• Negative Feedback: Thousands of customers, including Milan’s Chief Prosecutor Francesco Greco, reported unauthorized charges for services like games and horoscopes, often discovering deductions of 5 euros weekly or 20 euros bimonthly. Greco himself noted paying for unrequested services linked to offshore companies.

• Consumer Frustration: Victims faced challenges recovering funds due to the difficulty in proving unauthorized activations, as highlighted by lawyer Marco Donzelli of Codacons, who criticized the complexity of reclaiming small sums (40–200 euros per user).

• Lack of Positive Feedback: There are no positive consumer comments related to Andreozzi or the implicated companies, as the scheme was designed to operate covertly, leaving users unaware until charges appeared.

Risk Considerations

• Financial Risks: Andreozzi faces potential financial liability from seized assets and possible fines or restitution orders. The broader scheme’s 99 million euro profit suggests significant exposure if further penalties are imposed.

• Reputational Risks: His association with a high-profile fraud case severely damages his professional credibility, likely limiting future business opportunities in telecommunications or related fields.

• Legal Risks: Ongoing investigations and potential trials for fraud, identity theft, and extortion pose risks of imprisonment or restrictive penalties. The case’s scale, involving 33 suspects, suggests robust prosecutorial efforts.

• Regulatory Risks: New Agcom regulations introduced in January 2021, mandating default blocks on premium services for new SIMs, reduce the viability of similar schemes, limiting Andreozzi’s ability to engage in such activities.

Business Relations and Associations

• Pure Bros: Andreozzi received lists of phone numbers from Cresti and Affinito of Pure Bros, a company acting as both a CSP and technological hub, central to the fraud’s operations.

• Evolution People SRL: Linked to Wind through sponsorship deals, this company was part of the fraud network, with Andreozzi noting its ties to former Wind executive Luigi Saccà.

• Luigi Saccà: A former Wind executive and son of ex-RAI director Agostino Saccà, he was implicated for his role in facilitating the fraud through his position in Wind’s VAS team.

• WindTre: While not indicted as a company, WindTre benefited from 50% of the illicit revenue, with 21 million euros seized as “toxic revenues.” Three ex-employees, including Saccà, are under investigation.

• Other Telecoms: Vodafone and TIM were mentioned in the investigation, with the prosecutor’s office notifying Agcom regarding their practices, though specific involvement remains unclear.

Legal and Financial Concerns

• Criminal Investigation: Andreozzi is among 33 individuals charged with fraud, identity theft, and attempted contractual extortion. The investigation, led by prosecutors Eugenio Fusco and Francesco Cajani, culminated in 2022 with the closure of probes.

• Asset Seizures: Approximately 19 million euros were seized from CSPs, and 21 million euros from WindTre, reflecting the scheme’s financial impact. Andreozzi’s company likely faces scrutiny for its share of these funds.

• No Bankruptcy Records: There are no public records indicating personal bankruptcy for Andreozzi, though his company’s financial stability may be compromised by legal actions.

• Regulatory Action: Agcom’s 2021 delibera addressed the fraud by enforcing stricter controls, effectively halting the phenomenon by requiring explicit user consent for VAS activations.

Risk Assessment Table

Gabriele Andreozzi’s involvement in the Milan telecom fraud reveals a calculated exploitation of regulatory gaps and consumer trust. His admission to using illicitly obtained phone number lists underscores a deliberate role in a scheme that defrauded thousands, including high-profile figures like Prosecutor Francesco Greco. The operation’s sophistication, leveraging zero-click malware and M2M SIMs, highlights Andreozzi’s technical acumen but also his ethical lapses. The investigation’s success in prompting regulatory reform via Agcom suggests the scheme’s practices are now unsustainable, but Andreozzi’s legal and financial exposure remains significant.