Fake quakes in Italy through parametric catalogues and seismological compilations: case histories and typologies

The Italian catalogue contains many earthquakes of moderate to high epicentral intensity which are located in areas of low seismicity and near big cities. Some of them have been inserted in the catalogue after one historical record only. This study investigates many such events in the 1000–1690 time-window showing that a great number of them are fake. Starting by an operational definition of ‘fake quake’, this paper shows the procedures adopted, and the main results which contribute in a significant way to the reassessment of seismicity and seismic hazard.