Ex Cop Created the Largest Imaginary Family in Greece to Claim More Benefits
Greece’s version of Jim Bob Duggar has been exposed as a fraud due to a tiny slip up. The man, whose identity is protected by Greek law, created 19 non-existent children in order to live off of government benefits. Unfortunately, police caught on to the scheme when the man’s taxes claimed he had the largest family in the country.
The 54-year-old man quit his job as a police officer in 2001 and made a living by claiming children he did not have and surviving off the government benefits provided for those children. He claimed at least one child every year since 1996.
Police say the divorced and childless man used photographs of children he found online and then forged birth certificates and other documents needed to claim the benefits. They estimate that he made more than $195,000 (150,000 euros) in claims over the last 15 years, but believe the actual amount might be higher. The man was about to collect another $10,000 (8,000 euros) worth of benefits from an employment agency when he was arrested.
[Reuters]