Years of deception

German evaded 84,000 euros in social security payments

The social welfare office of the city of Salzburg and the pension insurance institution were cheated out of 84,000 euros

(Bild: dpa/Federico Gambarini, krone.at-Grafik)

A 74-year-old social welfare fraudster made false statements for years, illegally collecting high pension amounts. He concealed rental income and his assets. He has now been charged with serious fraud. The damages amount to 84,000 euros.

A German man (74) is alleged to have wrongfully received pension payments and social benefits for years. The man was registered in the city of Salzburg until 2022. From 2011 to 2014, he received social benefits, after which he received an EEA equalization supplement up to and including March 2023, for which he was entitled due to his pension entitlement in Germany. The allegation: When he submitted the applications in each case, he provided false information about his financial situation. He also concealed assets and rental income that he regularly had.

When he was criminally investigated in another case in 2021, he claimed to have assets of 15 million euros. The social fraud caused a loss of 34,000 euros to the social welfare office of the city of Salzburg, and the pension insurance institution wrongly paid out 50,000 euros. It is not known where the man is currently staying. He was reported to the Salzburg public prosecutor's office for serious fraud.