Ferrari owner and mobster among Italian benefit cheats

Police identify more than 5,000 cases of people fraudulently drawing citizens' income' meant for poor

A citizens' income" scheme in Italy intended to alleviate poverty was allegedly cheated by thousands of claimants, some of whom owned Ferraris, yachts and several properties, police have said.

Among those claiming the benefit was a presumed mafia boss and a person who invented having children in order to boost their monthly income. The details emerged during a six-month investigation in the southern regions of Campania, Abruzzo, Puglia, Molise and Basilicata.