By YEET Magazine Staff, YEET Magazine
Published October 3, 2025

Tags:

Italian pension scam, man dresses as mother for pension, Italy arrest pension fraud, son impersonates dead mother, bizarre pension crimes, how pension scams work, Italy news weird stories

A 56-year-old Italian man was arrested after allegedly spending three years impersonating his deceased mother to illegally collect her pension. Here’s how the story unfolded and why investigators say it reveals a growing issue inside Italy’s aging welfare system.

56-Year-Old Italian Man Arrested After Dressing As His Dead Mother for 3 Years to Claim Her Pension

Italian authorities have arrested a 56-year-old man in Rome after discovering he had allegedly spent three full years impersonating his dead mother—complete with wigs, makeup, glasses, and her old clothes—just to keep collecting her monthly pension.

Investigators say the case is one of the most bizarre pension-fraud incidents Italy has seen in years, and it exposes deeper cracks in how the country handles its aging population and public benefits.

“It was shocking to see,” an officer from the Carabinieri reportedly told local journalists. “He walked, talked, and behaved exactly like his mother. If you weren’t paying close attention, you might actually believe it was her.”

Authorities were tipped off after bank employees noticed that “the mother”—who would have been in her 80s—was acting strangely, avoiding speaking, and seemed extremely uncomfortable every time she entered the branch.

A Real-Life Disguise That Went Too Far

According to police reports, the man’s mother passed away in 2022. Instead of notifying the authorities, he allegedly decided to keep her death a secret. He withdrew her monthly pension checks while disguised as her, wearing long coats, scarves, and oversized sunglasses.

“He refused to accept losing the money,” said a police spokesperson. “He also refused to accept losing his mother. In his own way, he tried to keep both alive.”

Neighbors told reporters that they sometimes thought they saw the elderly woman leaving the apartment, but something always felt “off.”

One woman who lived nearby said, “The walk was strange. Too fast. Too stiff. I thought maybe she was sick. I never imagined it wasn’t her.”

A Growing Problem: Pension Fraud in an Aging Country

Experts say Italy’s pension system has been grappling with increasing fraud cases as the population gets older and public benefits become harder to monitor.

Professor Elisa Romano, a sociologist at the University of Milan, explained:
“Many Italians rely heavily on pensions, and financial pressure can push some into desperate measures. But this case is extreme. Most fraud is administrative, not theatrical.”

In fact, authorities confirm that hundreds of pension-related frauds are reported every year—though few involve a son dressing up as his deceased mother.

Police Stunned by the “Level of Commitment”

During the arrest, officers found wigs, prosthetics, dresses, sunglasses, orthopedic shoes, and bags that belonged to the man’s late mother.

One investigator called it “a full wardrobe of deception.”

“We’ve seen identity fraud,” he said. “But we’ve never seen someone go this far. It was like a character performance.”

What Happens Next

The man faces charges including:

• fraud against the state
• falsifying personal information
• obstruction of official reporting
• improper handling of a deceased person’s identity

He could face years in prison, depending on how much money he illegally received.

The bank involved has already conducted an internal review, and Italian welfare officials say they will be tightening verification processes for pension recipients.

A Tragic, Absurd Human Story

While many online have turned the story into a meme, law enforcement noted that the case has a darker emotional side.

“One can’t help but wonder what brought him to this point,” said a counselor who works with welfare fraud cases. “It’s a story about grief, desperation, and a system that sometimes leaves people behind.”

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56-year-old man from Borgo Virgilio, Italy, is under investigation for benefit fraud after allegedly disguising himself as his deceased mother for nearly three years to continue collecting her pension.

Suspicion began when he went to a local council office to renew her ID card while wearing a wig, makeup, jewellery, and attempting to mimic her voice. Staff noticed inconsistencies in his appearance, especially his neck, hands, and speech.

Authorities later compared photos and discovered the woman’s body hidden in the laundry room of his home. Investigators say he illegally collected thousands of euros in pension payments since her death in 2022.

The man, an unemployed nurse, had reportedly been living off his mother’s pension along with income from three properties, totaling about €53,000 a year.