Italian fraudster arrested in Villach: serial crimes uncovered!

Italian fraudster arrested in Villach: serial crimes uncovered!

An Italian citizen suspected of operating as a “soft fraudster” in Villach was arrested on November 29, 2024. The arrest came after a report about two rental scams was received by the Villach-Trattengasse police station on November 7th. The investigation revealed that within a week, three leased vehicles were registered in the 55-year-old's name, which were then taken to Italy. One of these vehicles had already been resold, while buyers were being sought for the other two. The identity documents he presented were reported stolen in Italy, which alerted officials 5min.at reported.

Uncovering an extensive fraud network

During the arrest, the man's true identity was discovered. He claimed to be a “soft fraudster” and had already served a 16-year prison sentence for fraud in Italy in 2016. After being released from prison in 2021, he went into hiding and continued to run scams in various German and Austrian cities. He is currently wanted for more than 200 similar offenses in Germany, with the known amount of damage so far in Austria amounting to several hundred thousand euros. The exact extent of the damage in Germany remains unclear as investigations are ongoing.

The man's arrest raises questions about security measures surrounding the awarding of leasing contracts. New checks may be necessary, particularly with regard to obtaining Italian citizenship or permanent residence. In Italy, citizenship is granted under certain conditions, although the applicant's financial background could also play a role. An increase in fraud attempts could mean that applications will be scrutinized more closely in the future to ensure the integrity of the process, it said idealista.it.