Fraudster in custody

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The Italian had taken over leased cars under a false name.

(Bild: thinkstockphotos.de)

55-year-old concluded leasing contracts under a false name and then resold the cars. He was arrested in Wiener Neustadt. His criminal career even surprises the investigators.

Mamma Mia! This Italian (55) really has it thick as a fist behind his ears. No fewer than 200 cases of fraud in Germany, Carinthia and Lower Austria are allegedly attributable to him.

Stolen IDs, false names
The man secured his "main income" by taking over and then selling leased cars, which he had previously taken over under a false name and with stolen IDs. The 55-year-old had come to the attention of the police due to rental fraud around Villach. The police quickly discovered that three cars financed through leasing had been registered to him within a few days. He had already sold one of them on. After he had leased another car in Wiener Neustadt, he was arrested when he tried to pick it up.

Escaped from prison
During his interrogation, he described himself as a "gentle fraudster", but one who can already look back on a regular criminal career. In 2016, the Italian was sentenced to 16 years in prison in his home country, but managed to escape in 2021. Since then, he has probably earned his living through fraud. In Austria alone, the loss amounts to several 100,000 euros, in Germany it is likely to be many times higher.