For years, a group of Syrians, Afghans, Pakistanis and Moroccans have shamelessly exploited the Austrian social security and tax system, apparently using all the means at their disposal – the damage amounts to approximately 4.8 million euros.
The investigation was launched in mid-2024 due to suspicious financial flows. Suspicion quickly grew: behind the professionally concealed cash flows lay a complex system of over 200 fictitious companies, which were used to falsify income and employment and to claim income tax refunds.
People with false identities from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Bulgaria set up companies, mainly in the transport, trade or cleaning sectors, for small payments and registered as directors or employees without actually working.
Ten people from Pakistan, Syria, Afghanistan and Morocco allegedly withdrew tax money in cash or transferred it to their own accounts. Family reunification was allegedly achieved using forged documents or fake marriages, after which social benefits were obtained.
A young mother is reported to have had her maternity leave allowance increased significantly. Another woman without health insurance registered with one of the companies to undergo expensive surgery.
Incredibly, in one case, a Syrian even fraudulently obtained citizenship using forged pay slips. Proceedings to revoke citizenship are expected to follow.
During 16 house searches in Vienna and Lower Austria, investigators found 186,000 euros in cash, 100 mobile phones, IT equipment, as well as numerous documents and bank cards. The investigation is in full swing, and more than 200 people are involved in the case.
"The structures were highly professionally organized," said Andreas Holzer, director of the Federal Criminal Police.
