Police identify three suspects in €63,300 benefits case

Three people are suspected of fraudulently obtaining nearly €63,300 in social benefits in the Weinviertel region of Lower Austria since 2008, ORF reported Wednesday. The money was claimed for a 38-year-old woman and her children.

Police say the woman, who is from Bosnia and Herzegovina, allegedly used a forged foreign document claiming she was married to a 39-year-old man to obtain a residence permit and financial support. The suspects are also accused of submitting forged documents to public authorities to claim social assistance, heating-cost support and a housing allowance.

Police identified the three in June. The woman and a 38-year-old Croatian man live in Mistelbach district, while the 39-year-old Austrian man is from Hollabrunn district. The suspects did not admit the allegations and have been reported to the Korneuburg public prosecutor’s office.