by Nina Vaclavikova
Interview: Caterina De Gavardo, Trieste Councilor for Public Safety and Local Police
Trieste officials on Wednesday unveiled a new theater production that uses comedy to address a growing concern in Italy: fraud schemes targeting ordinary citizens, particularly older and more vulnerable residents.
The show, titled “Truffa Academy: Metodo infallibile per difendersi dalle truffe mentre se ridi come disgraziai” (“Scam Academy: A Foolproof Method for Defending Yourself Against Scams While Laughing Like Crazy”), will be staged on May 14 at the Bobbio Theater in Trieste. Admission will be free.
The production was developed through a collaboration between Trieste’s municipal police force and the local comic duo Maxino and Flavio Furian, with support from the Friuli Venezia Giulia regional government as part of a broader public safety initiative.
At a news conference announcing the event, city officials described the performance as an unconventional attempt to broaden awareness about increasingly sophisticated scams, including online fraud, impersonation schemes and financial deception.
“We wanted to approach a serious subject in a way that is engaging and accessible,” said Caterina de Gavardo, Trieste’s councillor for urban security policies. “Through humor, certain messages can reach people more directly and effectively.”
The production builds on previous anti-fraud campaigns carried out by the city and local police, including informational meetings in neighborhoods, awareness campaigns on public transportation and the communications initiative #SOSTRUFFE, launched last year with the slogan “Recognize. Prevent. Report.”
Regional Councillor Pierpaolo Roberti said fraud operations have evolved far beyond isolated petty crimes.
“Today these are often structured criminal organizations operating at national and international levels,” he said. “They are highly organized and extremely professional in their methods.”
Roberti added that the regional government has allocated €600,000 in its 2026 budget specifically for public awareness campaigns related to safety and fraud prevention.
The creators of the show said the performance avoids treating fraud lightly despite its comedic format. Instead, they attempt to expose the logic and techniques used by scammers by temporarily adopting the perspective of the criminals themselves.
“We decided to reverse the point of view,” said Maxino, one half of the comedy duo. “By understanding the tricks and recurring patterns, people become better at recognizing them in real life.”
According to Paolo Jerman, deputy commander of Trieste’s municipal police, the initiative represents a shift away from more traditional public information campaigns toward broader and more participatory forms of outreach.
Officials said the performance was written specifically with Trieste in mind, incorporating situations drawn from everyday local experiences. Organizers expressed hope that the event could become the first in a larger series of public-awareness initiatives combining entertainment with civic education.
The performance is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Teatro Bobbio on Via del Ghirlandaio. Tickets will be available at the theater entrance while supplies last.
