Summary of the Social Fraud Task Force: 12,200 criminals have been eliminated since the creation of the special unit. In 2021 alone, the state was relieved by almost 20 million euros.
“Closing for benefits is not a trivial offense. Because that harms those people who need it particularly badly,” agree Minister Gerhard Karner and Magnus Brunner.
Sophisticated criminals, shameless methods
But the task force created in 2018 has to deal with increasingly sophisticated criminals. All in all, the specially trained officers deal with 50 modi operandi. The methods involved particularly shameless methods: for example, an Iraqi received basic services and at the same time ran a thriving car dealership, which he kept secret so as to continue to use the domestic welfare funds undisturbed.
And a mother of three has submitted a request to the municipality to have the father of the child pay alimony. After he did not respond to reminders and did not pay alimony, the woman was paid 544 euros per month. When checking the home address, it turned out that the man lived with his family, but had not registered there so as not to lose the payments. A Turk, on the other hand, received red-white-red child benefits for several children for years, even though he had already returned to his homeland on the Bosphorus in 2012.
Prisoner forged release certificate
Another case that was discovered is also curious: a 68-year-old was in prison the longest. During this time, the pension was also suspended by law. But in order to get a pension before that time, the social criminal handed over a forged dismissal certificate.
Damage now accruing
All in all, the Republic suffers enormous financial damage as a result of this fraud, including almost eight million euros in Vienna last year. The fraud was committed in 2021 by 4,730 identified suspects and the state defrauded 19.3 million euros. Compared to 2020 (3820) compared to last year (4346) advertisements increased by no less than 13.8 percent.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
