Son Allegedly Impersonated Deceased Mother in Elaborate Pension Scam
Italian authorities are investigating a shocking case of benefit fraud in the northern town of Borgo Virgilio, where a 56-year-old man allegedly disguised himself as his dead mother to continue collecting her pension payments. The elaborate deception only unravelled when the man attempted to renew his mother's identity card at a local council office while dressed in full feminine attire.
The Failed Council Office Disguise
According to investigators, the man went to extraordinary lengths to mimic his 85-year-old mother's appearance during his visit to the council office earlier this month. Francesco Aporti, the mayor of Borgo Virgilio, described how the suspect arrived dressed as "an old woman" complete with lipstick, nail polish, jewellery and a dark brown bob-style wig. The impersonation extended to the man attempting to speak in a female voice, though Mayor Aporti noted that "occasionally a few masculine notes slipped out" during the encounter.
The suspicious council staff member grew doubtful upon closer inspection, observing that the visitor's neck appeared "a bit too thick" and that the wrinkles seemed unnatural. Most tellingly, the staff member noted that "the skin on his hands did not seem to be that of an 85-year-old woman," ultimately leading to police involvement.
Grim Discovery and Financial Motive
When authorities compared official photographs of the deceased woman with images of her son, the resemblance raised immediate concerns. Police subsequently searched the man's home and made a grim discovery: his mother's body had been hidden in the laundry room since her death in 2022.
Investigators revealed that the unemployed nurse had allegedly collected thousands of euros in pension payments intended for his mother during this period. According to reports from Corriere della Sera, the man benefited significantly from the scheme, enjoying an annual income of approximately €53,000 through a combination of his mother's pension and revenue from three properties.
A Disturbing Pattern in Italy
This case represents the latest in a series of similar incidents across Italy where family members have concealed deaths to continue receiving pension benefits. In 2023, authorities discovered that a man in Verona had kept his mother's body at home for five years while fraudulently claiming her pension. The same year saw another case in Puglia, where a son managed to conceal his father's death for an astonishing decade before being discovered.
The Borgo Virgilio suspect now faces serious charges including benefit fraud and hiding a body, highlighting ongoing challenges in Italy's pension verification systems and the extreme lengths some will go to maintain illicit income streams.
