Italian man dresses up as his dead mother to claim her pension

Italian police have launched an investigation against a 56-year-old man for allegedly concealing his mother’s death and impersonating her to keep receiving her pension.

The suspect, who lives in Borgo Virgilio near Mantua, is alleged to have continued withdrawing his mother’s pension payments after she died in 2022.

Instead of informing authorities, police said that he kept her body hidden inside the family home.

The case came to light earlier this month when the man reportedly arrived at the local council office disguised as his mother in order to renew her identity card.

Staff became suspicious and notified police. Officials later compared the real ID photo of the deceased woman with images from the man’s attempted visit. 

During a search at his home, officers found the woman’s remains concealed in the laundry room.

Mayor Francesco Aporti told local media that the man had entered the office “dressed as an old woman,” wearing lipstick, nail polish, jewellery and a wig styled in a dark bob. He said the suspect also tried to speak in a female voice, though “a few masculine notes slipped out.”

According to the mayor, staff noticed inconsistencies such as a thick neck, unusual wrinkles and hands that did not resemble those of an 85-year-old woman.

Italian media reported that the man previously worked as a nurse and had been living off his mother’s pension and income from several properties.