An Italian man has been arrested after allegedly disguising himself as his deceased mother to continue collecting her pension. The unusual case unfolded when authorities noticed something was off during a routine ID renewal process.
An Italian man kept secret the death of his mother for 3 years to continue to collect her pension. He was caught only after his mother's ID expired and he went to the register office dressed up like her to renew it pic.twitter.com/a3EI2EreF7
— non aesthetic things (@PicturesFoIder) November 24, 2025
According to reports, the man arrived at a municipal office wearing a wig, heavy makeup and women’s clothing, claiming to be his elderly mother. His goal was to renew her identity card, which would allow him to keep receiving her pension payments. Staff quickly became suspicious and alerted the police.
Investigators say the mother had passed away months earlier, but her son had been pocketing her pension ever since. When the ID card expired, he devised the elaborate disguise to keep the scheme going. Unfortunately for him, the plan fell apart almost immediately.
Police detained the man and charged him with fraud. The case has sparked widespread discussion in Italy, with many people stunned by the lengths he went to for a few extra euros. Authorities are now reviewing whether additional charges will apply.
While pension fraud is not uncommon, this incident stands out for its theatrical twist. Social media users have been quick to share memes and jokes about the story, but officials remind the public that such crimes carry serious penalties.
