An illegal pastry chef in Upper Austria earned about 72,000 euros from selling themed cakes, and at the same time has been collecting unemployment benefits and emergency aid since the beginning of 2022 – the case exposed by the financial police is raising eyebrows. Botchers are now under closer attack, says Federal Guild Master Leo Jindrak.
She had offered cakes on social media for a price of 90 euros each, which could be ordered from her via direct message – an Austrian woman is said to have earned around 72,000 euros in dirty money from this scam, but at the same time received unemployment benefits and emergency aid.
The financial police discovered the 31-year-old, the AMS Upper Austria demands money back, she was reported to the public prosecutor’s office for fraud and to the tax authorities for tax evasion.
The case from Upper Austria, which became known last Sunday, is also the subject of the international confectionery competition, which ends on February 29 in Linz. “It is simply not possible for people to mess around with the trade and not stick to the rules of the game,” says Leo Jindrak, federal guild master of the food industry and pastry chefs in Austria.
Motif cakes are often made in a botched way
The messing up of motif cakes has increased enormously in recent years, he confirms. “We will pay even more attention to those who work here illegally,” Jindrak emphasizes, “because this is a mess for anyone who has undergone training and adheres to all guidelines.”
Chamber of Commerce warned
The Chamber of Commerce is concerned and wants to protect members who have registered a company. The master pastry chef from Linz announces: “We are getting a more spicy program.”
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
