Alfredo
Lawyer · Naples, Italy
- 30 cases handled
- 5+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Spanish, Italian
- Masters Degree in Law, Università Federico II di Napoli
-
5.00(1 review)
Fraud, Theft and Forgery in Italy
This page is for people accused of fraud, theft or forgery in Italy, offences called truffa, furto and falso in Italian law. It explains how such cases start, when the victim's complaint matters, how they can end and what an English-speaking lawyer does.
About Fraud, Theft and Forgery in Italy
Fraud, theft and forgery charges in Italy cover three groups of offences: truffa (fraud, deceiving someone to obtain money or property) and frode informatica (computer or online fraud); furto (theft), including shoplifting and its aggravated forms such as theft from a home; and falso (forgery), the making or use of false documents, from a fake certificate to an altered contract. In English, people search for fraud charges, being accused of theft or shoplifting, card or online fraud and forged documents. This page is for the accused and is general information, not legal advice. Some older lists and lawyer pages call this service “Fraud, Theft, Forgery etc”.
Who needs this
A tourist stopped after leaving a shop, a tenant or business partner accused of keeping money that was not theirs (appropriazione indebita), a seller of goods later found to be stolen (ricettazione), a person who used a document that turned out to be false in an application, and a company director facing fraud allegations.
How a case runs in Italy
- Complaint or ex officio. Simple fraud and some forms of theft are prosecuted only on the victim's complaint (querela), which can be withdrawn; recent reforms widened that group. Aggravated cases and forgery of public documents are prosecuted by the state.
- Repairing the damage. Paying back or compensating the victim can end the case, lead to a lighter outcome or make the offence too minor to punish (particolare tenuità del fatto), depending on the offence.
- Other routes. Plea agreements (patteggiamento), the abbreviated trial and suspension with community work (messa alla prova) are available in many cases.
What to pay attention to
Forgery is treated more strictly when it concerns a public document, such as a certificate, a permit or a licence, and the use of a false document can be a crime even if someone else made it. Robbery (rapina), which involves violence or threats, is a different and more serious offence. A conviction can affect a residence permit or a future visa.
What an English-speaking lawyer does
The lawyer reads the file, explains the charge and the procedure, checks whether the complaint was filed correctly and in time, negotiates repayment where useful, prepares the defence on intent and evidence, and represents the client in court, including from abroad. A person who was the victim of fraud or theft finds information under legal representation for crime victims. A conviction can appear on a criminal record certificate. More on criminal law in Italy.
Questions and answers
I was stopped for shoplifting. Is it a crime in Italy?
Yes, it is a form of theft. How the case develops depends on whether it requires the shop's complaint and on any aggravating circumstances.
Can I settle with the victim?
Often, yes. For offences prosecuted on complaint, a settlement and withdrawal of the complaint can end the case; in other cases compensation still counts.
What is the difference between fraud and theft?
In theft the property is taken; in fraud the victim hands it over because they were deceived.
I live abroad. Do I have to attend?
Most steps can be handled by the lawyer, although some decisions, such as a plea agreement, require the client's signed consent.
1 lawyer who provides Fraud, Theft and Forgery in Italy
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What our clients say about our service in Italy
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I recommend this lawyer, who helped me through a tough situation after I was wrongly accused of fraud. The advice, support and professionalism he offered were outstanding.
— Elin28 Feb 2020 -
The lawyer answered my queries the moment I sent them. She knows the Greek legal system extremely well and was a great help; on my own I could never have reached a conclusion I am completely satisfied with. Her command of English was excellent, close to bilingual though not quite. At all times she was friendly, approachable and professional, and she explained clearly what I had to do. I came to trust her completely.
— Alan19 Oct 2025 -
He was very professional and gave me good advice and information about my situation and what can be done about it, and his English was perfect, so there was no trouble understanding. I truly appreciated the advice not only on the legal level but on a human level too.
— Nicole04 Dec 2025 -
She gave me guidance on a complex problem.
— John10 Jul 2023Personal Tax Consultation, Italy -
My husband's case is complicated. At last we have found an excellent Avvocato, and this service came to our rescue; we are very satisfied.
— Jacqueline31 Jan 2023Personal Injury & Medical Malpractice, Italy -
The lawyer was a very professional man and the family are extremely grateful for his help with our matter. The fee was good value for money, and he was very clear about what we needed throughout our case, in perfect English.
— Antony21 Dec 2022 -
He responded quickly, understood my situation thoroughly and gave me the right solution, which I am very satisfied with.
— Rowena28 Sep 2022 -
The lawyer took the time to go through my options in detail and even suggested ones I did not know about. She is very knowledgeable in this field, and the help was excellent.
— Clinton20 Jul 2022Fiscal Advice, Italy -
The lawyer was always very thorough and came up with great solutions. She patiently went through everything and talked me through my options, which was a great help as I had just moved to a new country and did not speak Italian. The assistance was excellent.
— Kelly14 May 2022Tax Services for Freelancers & Self-Employed, Italy -
Overall I had a very satisfying experience. The lawyer was very helpful on the phone, on WhatsApp and, at the end, during a 3-hour meeting at the notary's office. He is very professional and did everything I could have wanted, and I am sure we received the best service possible.
— Bo07 Apr 2022 -
Fast to respond, quick to grasp my questions and helpful every time. The assistance was excellent.
— Axelle05 Oct 2021General Tax Services, Italy -
Even though the case dragged on for more than a year, I was always kept informed about the process and got an immediate answer to every question. I am very satisfied with the final result.
— Tomas05 Aug 2020