Police in Bologna, Italy, have uncovered a major fraud scheme involving a fake fiscal assistance center that allegedly helped migrants obtain stay permits illegally. Investigators believe the group collected money from migrants in exchange for submitting false applications under Italy’s “flow decrees,” which regulate legal entry for foreign workers.
A total of 25 people are now under investigation. Eight of them have already been served arrest warrants or ordered to report to judicial authorities. The probe is being led by the State Attorney’s Office in the Emilia Romagna region, with support from anti-mafia investigators.
According to police sources, the group created a fake CAF office that submitted hundreds of applications filled with false data and documents. These fake applications allowed migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and several North African countries to enter Italy illegally. The cost ranged from 3,000 to 10,000 euros per person, depending on the migrant’s country of origin.
Investigators say that around 500 fraudulent applications were filed across the provinces of Bologna, Milan, and Foggia. Many of these applications were approved because officials were overwhelmed by the high number of requests and because of the “tacit consent” rule, which sometimes allows applications to pass if they are not checked in time.
The investigation began in 2022 after an employer reported suspicious activity. He said he paid a multi-service agency in Imola to help him hire seasonal workers, but nothing was ever completed. This report led authorities to uncover a larger operation.
The agency worked like a legitimate CAF and had two offices in Imola, plus two additional branches in Massalombarda and Ancona. Investigators believe the agency used fake documents, fake business owners, and even real employers who were unaware of the scam.
Police also discovered that the scheme involved both Italian and foreign citizens. Some allegedly acted as recruiters, while others posed as owners of fake companies to support the illegal applications. The case remains open as authorities continue to review all the documents involved.
The outcome of the investigation will determine whether the suspects face charges for aiding and abetting illegal immigration and running a criminal organization.