Social Benefits Fraud: Taskforce Investigated Over 25,000 Suspects

Of these suspects, 1,400 had Austrian citizenship, while 3,607 were foreign nationals, according to the response to a parliamentary inquiry by Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP). The total damage caused by these acts amounted to 23.36 million euros in 2024. Although this sum was significantly above the figures for the years 2020 to 2022, it was 2.15 million euros below the damage caused in 2023.

Social Benefits Fraud: Damage Amount in Vienna Decreased

Of the 23.36 million euros, 11.19 million euros were attributed to the two-million city of Vienna, where the identified damage was 636,000 euros below that of 2023. This corresponded to a decrease of 9.36 percent. In contrast to Vienna and other federal states, where the damage amounts determined for 2024 partially decreased significantly compared to the previous year, there were significant increases in Vorarlberg with 1.01 million euros after 631,403 euros the previous year (an increase of 60.07 percent) and in Styria with 2.67 million euros after 1.57 million euros in 2023 (an increase of 69.9 percent).

Balance of the Taskforce Social Benefits Fraud

Since the establishment of the Taskforce Social Benefits Fraud in 2018, 25,156 suspects have been identified and 23,653 reports have been filed. A total damage of around 135.6 million euros was determined. "This sum includes both the damage that has already actually occurred and the damage that could be prevented through ongoing unlawful claims," it was stated on Saturday by the Federal Criminal Police Office. These figures "speak for the sustainable impact of the Task Force and its crucial role in protecting the Austrian social system," it was emphasized.

"These figures document a dramatic imbalance. Social fraud is out of control, the welfare state is being deliberately exploited," said the Freedom Party MP Peter Wurm on Saturday in a press release. There is a need for "finally a clear line" against individuals "who deliberately defraud and exploit our social system," urged Wurm: "What is happening before our eyes is an organized raid against Austrian taxpayers." The clearance rates for social benefits fraud are almost 100 percent. Of 4,865 individual offenses in the previous year, 4,841 or 99.5 percent were solved.

(APA/Red)

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