He pretended to be blind for more than 20 years and collected $175,000 in benefits—this is how they found out

Man Fakes Blindness for Over 20 Years, Collecting $175,000 in Benefits

A man in Italy was arrested after pretending to be blind for more than two decades. During this time, he fraudulently received approximately $175,000 in disability payments and government aid.

Background of the Case

The man lived in Castellammare di Stabia, a city near Naples in southern Italy. For over 20 years, he informed authorities that he was completely blind and unable to live independently. This claim allowed him and his wife to collect financial support from the government.

Investigation and Fraud Uncovered

The Italian social security agency, INPS, which manages disability pensions, initially reviewed the case along with the Guardia di Finanza, but the deception went undetected. The man had submitted forged medical documents, including a fake eye examination from 2010.

This false document convinced a new medical commission that his blindness was genuine.

Thanks to the counterfeit reports, he continued to receive government benefits for many more years without suspicion.

Significance

This case shocked Italian authorities due to the length of the scam and the amount of public money involved.

Summary

This prolonged fraudulent claim highlights the challenges in verifying disability benefits and the importance of thorough investigations.

Author's summary: A man in southern Italy deceived authorities for over 20 years by faking blindness, fraudulently collecting $175,000 in disability benefits through forged medical documents.

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Unión Rayo Unión Rayo — 2025-11-03

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