Italian Man Arrested After Allegedly Dressing as His Late Mother to Collect Her Pension

An Italian man has been arrested after allegedly disguising himself as his deceased mother for several years in order to illegally collect her pension payments. The unusual case, which has drawn widespread attention across Italy, was revealed by local authorities earlier this week after a lengthy investigation into suspicious financial activity linked to the woman’s bank account.

According to investigators, the suspect, a man in his fifties whose identity has not yet been publicly released, reportedly went to extraordinary lengths to maintain the illusion that his mother was still alive. Police said the man frequently left his home dressed in clothing belonging to his late mother, complete with a wig, scarf, and oversized sunglasses, in order to appear elderly and female. This disguise was allegedly used to withdraw monthly pension funds at a local post office.

Authorities began monitoring the man after post office staff noticed inconsistencies in his behavior. An employee raised concerns after observing that the supposedly elderly woman’s movements did not match her apparent age, according to staff statements reported by local Italian media. These observations prompted a formal complaint to law enforcement, triggering the investigation.

During a subsequent police operation, officers stopped the suspect outside the post office as he attempted another withdrawal. To the surprise of the officers, the individual was found to be a man fully dressed in his mother’s clothing. According to a police statement, the mother had been dead for more than two years, but the pension payments had continued uninterrupted during that period.

Investigators also revealed that the man never reported his mother’s death to authorities, a legal requirement in Italy that automatically triggers the suspension of pension benefits. Instead, he allegedly continued to impersonate her in order to maintain access to the monthly funds, which authorities estimate amount to thousands of euros in total.

Italian prosecutors have opened a case against the suspect for fraud, identity misuse, and failing to report a death. Further charges are expected as the investigation continues, according to officials familiar with the matter.

The case has sparked discussions across Italy regarding pension fraud and the ease with which individuals may attempt to exploit the system. Officials have reiterated the importance of timely reporting of deaths to prevent similar incidents.