An Italian woman stands at the center of a startling case involving a purported 17 pregnancies, prompting authorities to scrutinise her for allegedly orchestrating a sophisticated maternity benefits scam spanning over 24 years.
Barbara Ioele, aged 50, has found herself ensnared in a web of deception, accused of fabricating a series of pregnancies – 12 resulting in natural abortions and 5 in false births – all in a calculated bid to pocket an estimated 110,000 euros ($120,000) in state-funded maternity benefits.
The breathtaking scope of Ioele's alleged scheme has left both authorities and the public in disbelief.
According to legal filings, she purportedly submitted documentation detailing 17 pregnancies, including miscarriages and childbirths, purportedly resulting in the births of children with names such as Benedetta, Angelica, Abramo, Letizia, and Ismaele. However, investigators have found no trace of these supposed offspring, raising significant doubts about the veracity of Ioele's claims.
Authorities assert that Ioele's elaborate ruse involved a sophisticated array of tactics, including the use of stolen birth certificates, forged medical documents, and even pillows to simulate pregnancy. Shockingly, her purported deceptions date back to the turn of the millennium, with Ioele allegedly successfully duping employers and government agencies for over two decades.
The unraveling of Ioele's intricate scheme commenced last year when labor authorities initiated surveillance on her during her alleged pregnancy.
Subsequent investigations revealed a pattern of deceit, with her partner, Davide Pizzinato, admitting complicity in the fraud, dating back to 2012. Pizzinato, 55, has reportedly cooperated with authorities and is poised to testify against Ioele in exchange for leniency.
Despite mounting evidence against her, Ioele remains defiant. In a bold move to evade interrogation, she presented medical certificates attesting to her purported poor health.
However, legal experts assert that Ioele faces a litany of charges, including financial fraud and identity theft, which could potentially result in a lengthy prison sentence.
