A woman who allegedly scammed the Italian government out of £182,600 (€208,000) by pretending to be blind for 15 years has been unmasked.
The 48-year-old fraudster from Gioia Tauro in the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria, southern Italy, received a disability benefit from the National Institute for Social Security, ostensibly for being completely blind.
However she was caught when Carabinieri, the national gendarmerie of Italy, saw her using the touchscreen of her mobile phone and signing a document without any difficulty.
During the investigation, Carabinieri said some of the woman's behaviours would have been impossible if she had actually been blind.
She has now been accused of aggravated and continued fraud against the state.
Two doctors accused of certifying the woman's disability on several occasions are also under investigation.
They are charged with aggravated and continued fraud against the state, as well as material falsehood committed by public officials in a public act, in collusion.
The Carabinieri said in a statement: "Falsely blind for 15 years, she received the disability pension reserved for those with 'absolute blindness': with this accusation, the Carabinieri of the Gioia Tauro Company have reported a 48-year-old woman from the area, a retired person, for aggravated and continuous fraud against the State while remaining at liberty.
"In total, she would have unlawfully received approximately 208,000 euros from INPS.
"The military investigations, which also involved observations and surveillance, found that the woman was extremely adept and capable, making simple gestures such as 'scrolling' on the mobile phone touchscreen, as well as showing absolute autonomy in signing documents or in daily routines.
"The two doctors who, on different occasions, certified the woman's disability, are also under investigation and will have to answer for aggravated and continuous fraud against the State, as well as for material falsehood committed by public officials in a public act, in collusion."
