Airport inspection reveals millions of euros in fraud related to social assistance
Authorities in Lower Austria have uncovered fraud amounting to millions of euros in the social assistance system, following surprise inspections at Vienna-Schwechat Airport. According to the latest report from the Social Assistance Fraud Squad 'SOLBE', nearly a third of this year's fraud cases were discovered during airport inspections conducted in cooperation with the police, customs, and financial police, revealing complex fraudulent methods among beneficiaries of the aid.
The 2025 report, presented in the city of St. Pölten on October 28, revealed that investigators uncovered 550 cases of fraud this year alone, with total losses amounting to 3.5 million euros. Since the establishment of the unit in 2019, more than 3,000 investigations have been conducted, resulting in the discovery of fraud exceeding 25 million euros. The most common fraud methods include claiming residency in Austria while being long-term abroad, or providing false medical information to obtain financial support.
Regional police chief Franz Bob explained that the main goal of the "social assistance fraud" unit is to uncover the misuse of public funds. He said: "The most common scams include fictitious residences, providing false health data, or concealing long trips abroad." Among the notable cases is that of a 59-year-old Bosnian man from the Neunkirchen area, who is suspected of defrauding authorities of nearly 50,000 euros and has been detained since last June.
Airport inspections have proven to be highly effective, as travel, accommodation, and payment data can be compared to identify beneficiaries who spend suspiciously long periods abroad. Many of them are caught upon their return through Vienna Schwechat Airport. Statistics indicate that nearly a third of the suspects are from Austria, while the rest come from countries both within and outside the European Union.
Officials acknowledge that the true extent of fraud in social assistance remains unknown. Marcel Hohenberger from the regional criminal police office told the Courier: "This type of fraud has likely existed since the implementation of social assistance systems." However, he and Bob believe that increased oversight and inspections enhance prevention and detection. Bob added: "The more investigations there are, the more cases emerge." He emphasized that social assistance fraud harms society and undermines public trust. Lower Austria plans to strengthen cooperation between government agencies and continue strict monitoring at airports to pursue and uncover offenders.