Decades-long sham exposed: Man pretending to be blind caught reading obituaries in Northern Italy

The Italian gentleman, an 84-year-old local of Turin, pretended to be blind for 34 years. He originally applied for a pension in the 90s, citing poor vision as the reason. Later, he falsely claimed that he was totally blind which led him to applying for full disability benefits.

This case, reported by polsatnews.pl and originally sourced from the Italian agency Ansa, was cracked following several months of intensive investigation. Detectives were sent to tail the man, and they eventually found the definitive evidence they needed to prove his scam.

The man was first confirmed to have a high degree of disability back in 1990. Medical documentation over the years implied that his condition was worsening, eventually corroborating the claims of total blindness in 2020.

However, 34 years on, the truth was revealed – it was all a sham. He was caught because he was performing actions that a blind individual would be incapable of. The 84-year-old was seen making use of cash machines, reading obituaries displayed on walls around his home and unabashedly strolling through the city streets, clearly navigating around obstacles.

In light of the fraud, the elderly man will be held accountable. Likewise, the doctors who falsely verified his declining health will also face legal action. As suggested by Italian media reports, it hasn't been ruled out that there could potentially be more people implicated in this scam.

The pensioner will now be required to compensate the state for the money he pilfered over the 34-year period. His flat on the edge of Ciriè has been seized in lieu of the funds owed. A bailiff has also accessed his bank account, which contained a hefty 90 thousand euros (approximately £76,500). The full amount which the man defrauded across the years has not been finalised.

Based on reports by Italian media focusing on the case, this is not an isolated incident in the city. A few years prior, police in Ciriè arrested an 83-year-old man driving a three-wheeled vehicle. His documentation claimed that he was blind. Subsequently, the prosecutor's office accused him of defrauding the state of 100 thousand euros (roughly £85,000).