A man was arrested in Italy because he pretended to be blind for decades. During this time, he received about $175,000 from public aid because of his disability, pretending he couldn’t see anything at all. This case has shocked Italian authorities because the scam lasted more than 20 years before he was caught. So, let’s learn more about this story.
Two decades of lies
The man lived in Castellammare di Stabia, a city near Napoles, in the south of Italy. For more than 20 years, he stated to authorities he was completely blind and he couldn’t deal with life on his own. So, he received disability payments and economic aid from the government. So, throughout these years, the man and his wife received about $175,000 in total that came from the INPS, the Italian agency that handles social security and disability pensions.
At a certain point, the Guardia di Finanza and the INPS checked this case, but on that first analysis they didn’t find out about the lie. The man had submitted fake medic reports, including one forged eye exam from 2010. This false document convinced a new medical commission that his blindness was genuine.
Thanks to these fake documents, the man continued receiving benefits from the government for many more years without anybody noticing his lie.
The cameras revealed the truth
With the passage of time, people started to doubt whether this man was really blind because some details didn’t match a blind person’s behavior. This is why Italian authorities decided to start an investigation (a more detailed this time) and keep a close eye on him secretly.
During this time, officers installed cameras and followed him to observe how he behaved in his daily life. What they found was that the man could perfectly see! This is what the recordings showed:
- Using ATMs to withdraw money and pressing the correct buttons without help.
- Counting coins and bills accurately while shopping in supermarkets.
- Walking confidently through busy streets, avoiding people and obstacles without using a cane or any assistance.
These images were a clear proof showing the man wasn’t blind at all. After gathering enough evidence, the police brought in an ophthalmologist — a medical eye specialist — to examine him. The doctor confirmed that the man was not blind and that his vision did not match the condition he had claimed to have.
With this medical test, officers concluded the man had been lying for more than 20 years and that everything had been a very well thought-out fraud plan.
Arrest and consequences
After discovering the truth, the man was accused of aggravated fraud, which means he lied to the government to get money and faked public documents. His wife was also accused since she participated in the fraud, helping prepare the documents and receiving the benefits. Both were placed under house arrest, which means they can’t leave their house while they are still being investigated.
What’s more, during the first stage of the case, authorities had already seized about $145,000 worth of property and cash from the couple (money that came from the false disability payments).
How he could lie about being blind
For more than two decades, the man got to fool doctors, government officials, and inspectors. He acted very convincingly during medical exams, pretending not to see anything at all. Also, the fake documents he submitted looked authentic, so the commissions trusted them without suspecting fraud.
However, modern investigative tools and careful work by the Guardia di Finanza eventually revealed the truth. The hidden camera footage showing him walking alone, using ATMs, and counting money was the final piece of evidence that ended his long-running deception.
The investigation is still open, and Italian authorities are reviewing similar cases to make sure that no other fraudulent claims go undetected.