A Bosnian receives unemployment benefits from AMS while he is in his country.
Fraud in social assistance in Austria causes damage estimated at tens of millions of euros annually. Among the most common cases in Styria is the travel of unemployment benefit recipients abroad without informing the relevant authorities. In Graz court, a 38-year-old Bosnian man stood accused of this crime.
For five years, the defendant received unemployment benefits from AMS, even though he was living in his home country, Bosnia. The total amount of money he received unlawfully was about 6500 euros, and in some cases, he was unable to complete the fraud. Judge Andreas Rom asked him: "Is it true that you did not inform AMS of your departure?" The man replied with a tone of regret: "Yes, that is true."
He justified his actions by saying: "I am a veteran and I suffer from psychological issues, and my father has a shrapnel in his head. I was living under severe psychological pressure." But the judge was not convinced, saying: "This has been going on for five years! Don't you see how much tax money is wasted every year because of such actions?" The man replied: "I deeply regret it."
The defendant added that he lost his job, was evicted from his home, and was in urgent need of money, but he is now working again as a building facade installer, and he pledges, saying: "I will try to save money to return everything I took." The court sentenced him to pay a fine of 1200 euros and five months in prison with a suspended sentence, which he accepted immediately. The judge advised him: "You should compensate for the damages as soon as possible."
This is not an isolated case; the number of fraud cases in social assistance in Steiermark has increased tenfold over ten years. In 2014, only 55 cases were recorded, while in 2024, it reached 515 cases, with losses in Steiermark alone amounting to millions.