On 20/11, a 57-year-old man was exposed for a sophisticated pension fraud scheme after attempting to renew his deceased mother's identity documents while disguised as her.

The man appeared at the registry office in Borgo Virgilio, Lombardy, Italy, dressed in women's clothing, wearing a wig, lipstick, and jewelry, in an attempt to deceive public officials. However, staff immediately grew suspicious and reported him to authorities and the police.

Upon reviewing surveillance camera data, officials noted that the "woman" arrived by car, despite the fact that his mother did not possess a driver's license. Subsequently, they requested the individual return to the office for a police investigation.

Mayor Francesco Aporti recounted that the 57-year-old man entered the office slowly, wearing a vest over a long skirt, lipstick, painted nails, and jewelry on his neck and hands, along with old-fashioned earrings and dark brown hair. "But on closer inspection, his neck was a bit thick, the wrinkles seemed unusual, and the skin on his hands did not resemble that of an 85-year-old. His voice sounded feminine, but occasionally a male tone would emerge," the mayor stated.

Local administrative office in Borgo Virgilio. Photo: Corriere della Sera

Local administrative office in Borgo Virgilio. Photo: Corriere della Sera

The man confessed to being the son of the 85-year-old woman he had impersonated. A subsequent search of the mother's home by police uncovered a mummified body in a basement room.

Initial investigations suggest the mother died of natural causes in 2022. Her body has been transported to the morgue for an autopsy.

According to police, the man failed to report his mother's death to continue receiving her monthly pension for three years after she passed away. The scheme unraveled when her identity card expired, compelling him to don his mother's clothes to renew the documents.

The man now faces charges of concealing a body and fraud.

By Tue Anh (according to Corriere della Sera, Metro)