Man dressed as dead mother to claim her pension, say Italian police

An Italian man is under investigation accused of benefit fraud and hiding a body after allegedly dressing up as his dead mother - mimicking her hairstyle with a wig and wearing makeup and jewellery - to claim her pension.

- Angela Giuffrida

The 56-year-old suspect, right, and his mother, who died in 2022

The man, from Borgo Virgilio in Lombardy, allegedly claimed thousands of euros in pension payments after the death of his mother in 2022. Instead of reporting her death, he allegedly hid her body in his home.

It was not until earlier this month when the 56-year-old allegedly disguised himself as his mother in an attempt to renew her identity card at the local council office that police were alerted by a member of staff who had become suspicious.