The resulting damage amounted to more than 50 million euros. Interior Minister Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) also announced in a broadcast on Monday that the task force would be reinforced in the future. Due to the sharp increase in the number of cases, there is also a master plan for 2021 that is already being implemented. Among other things, this provides for increased cooperation between the judiciary and paying agencies. These include pension insurance or the tax authorities. International cooperation also plays an important role. In order to improve this, there is cooperation with the Federal Criminal Police Office Wiesbaden in Germany. It was also announced today that numerous nationwide focus campaigns are planned for this year.
The variants of social benefit fraud are very diverse, by the way: Since the start of the project, more than 50 different modes of operandi have been recognized. “Social fraud undermines the efficiency of the Austrian social system. That is why it is important to counteract it with all possible means and to combat abuse consistently. Because the social network should continue to catch those who need it. We will not tolerate fraudsters,” emphasized the Minister of the Interior finally.
