• Man accused of fraudulently claiming his deceased mother’s pension and hiding her body
• Scheme uncovered when he tried to renew her ID disguised as her

Italian authorities are investigating a case of social benefit fraud and body concealment after a man from Borgo Virgilio allegedly dressed as his deceased mother—including a wig, makeup, and jewelry—to continue collecting her pension.

The 56-year-old reportedly received thousands of euros from his mother’s pension since her death in 2022, after hiding her body at home.

His scheme came to light this month when he attempted to renew her ID at the municipal office while disguised as her, raising suspicions from an employee who noticed his features did not match the official photo.

Following a police report, the woman’s body was found hidden in the laundry room of his home.

The mayor of Borgo Virgilio told a local newspaper that the man entered the government office dressed as “an elderly woman,” wearing lipstick, nail polish, old-fashioned earrings, and a dark brown wig, attempting to speak in a female voice, “though some masculine tones slipped through.”

Investigations revealed that the unemployed nurse had been living off his mother’s pension and three properties, giving him an annual income of €53,000.

This is not the first case of its kind in Italy.

In 2023, a man in Verona kept his mother’s body at home for five years to continue claiming her pension, while in another case in Puglia, a man concealed his father’s body for ten years for the same reason.