Italian woman told cash had `virus`, scammed of USD 2,000

London: An elderly woman in Italy has been robbed of her savings after two con-women told the pensioner that her USD 2,000 banknotes were contaminated with a deadly virus. The woman, in her eighties, was scammed of her money after two young women, claiming to be government officials called at her house in Veneto, Italy. The con-women asked the victim if she had withdrawn her pension, as the banknotes contained a "highly dangerous virus" which "could trigger a fatal reaction" in humans, `The Local` reported.

The women insisted they could decontaminate the notes, according to Il Mattino newspaper. The pensioner found it odd but handed over USD 2,000 to the scamsters who fled after taking the cash. The con-women were described as "smartly-dressed, smiling and courteous" by the victim. Police are now searching for the two women.