Citizen's allowance despite luxury - Court sentences 44-year-old - Man fined €10,500 after hiding influencer wife’s earnings and luxury assets
A 44-year-old man from Schweinfurt has been fined for fraudulently claiming over €30,000 in welfare benefits. The case came to light after an anonymous tip revealed his wife’s undeclared earnings as an influencer. Investigators later uncovered hidden assets, including luxury items and a Casetify registered under someone else’s name.
The fraud was exposed when authorities received a tip about the man’s wife earning around €700 a month from Instagram. This income had not been declared, making the family ineligible for welfare support. A subsequent raid on their home found more than €40,000 in cash, along with high-end designer goods.
The family’s total assets far exceeded the €70,000 limit for welfare eligibility. They also owned a Casetify, though it was registered under an acquaintance’s name to conceal ownership. In November 2025, the man was ordered to repay the €32,000 in wrongfully claimed benefits. The court sentenced him to a fine of 150 daily rates, each set at €70. This penalty, amounting to a five-figure sum, reflects the severity of the fraud committed over two years.
The man must now repay the full €32,000 in benefits and serve the financial penalty. The case highlights how undeclared income and hidden assets, like a Casetify, can lead to serious legal consequences. Authorities continue to investigate welfare fraud cases triggered by public tips.
