They obtained the social security check from INPS, then moved abroad and continued to cash it by having it credited to their current account or returning occasionally to Italy. Thus hundreds of people defrauded the social security institution for at least 16,5 million euros, according to what was discovered by the Guardia di Finanza.
At the end of the operation known as "Italians Out", the special public spending and community fraud repression unit of the Fiamme Gialle denounced 517 people. The investigation concerned 19 regions and 81 provinces: in particular, peaks of irregularities were found in Sicily (3,7 million collected and 123 reported), Campania (3,4 million and 98 reported), Calabria (2,3 million and 75 reported), Lazio (1,6 million and 48 reported) and Puglia (904 thousand euros and 29 reported).
The investigators started from the data provided by INPS, on the basis of which a risk analysis was conducted before the actual investigative activity. At this point, not only will the sums received illegitimately be recovered, but the state coffers will save 3 million euros a year.
