A fraud explosion in 2024: record-breaking numbers
The year 2024 has set a new negative record for public fund fraud, with a staggering €277.2 million illegally obtained from both Italian and EU resources. This is the highest amount recorded in the last fifteen years, mainly involving construction bonuses.
Between 2010 and 2024, the total amount of contested sums has exceeded €1.75 billion, with 2,566 liability judgments. Just in 2024, authorities launched 271 citations, the highest number since 2010, indicating stronger enforcement against public fund fraud.
The key role of construction bonus fraud
The rise in legal actions is primarily due to fraud in the construction sector, with schemes ranging from fake tax credits to illegal compensations related to energy efficiency incentives and building renovations. Many companies and individuals exploited loopholes to claim non-existent tax credits, often using inflated invoices or even never-executed projects.
More effective crackdown efforts
The increase in investigations is a result of better coordination between public institutions and authorities, uncovering fraud worth tens of millions of euros and significantly impacting the total contested amounts. The year 2024 has surpassed 2021 (€231.9 million) and 2015 (€223.3 million), confirming a growing wave of fraudulent activity in tax incentives.
The problem of insufficient controls
According to Unimpresa, the Superbonus and other construction incentives were handled too loosely, paving the way for uncontrolled speculation. The lack of preventive controls created a massive hole in public finances, benefiting those who exploited regulatory loopholes. Now, legitimate businesses risk bearing the consequences, as tax credit restrictions and transfer difficulties also affect compliant companies.
The numbers confirm a growing phenomenon
The Unimpresa Research Center data paints an alarming picture: the last time figures approached 2024 levels was in 2021, but with €45 million less.
Conversely, 2020 saw a sharp drop in contested sums (€12.8 million and just 72 citations), likely due to the pandemic and slowed enforcement. However, 2024 marks a return to pre-pandemic levels, with an average over €1 million per case.
What solutions for the future?
The recent surge in investigations has highlighted the failure of past prevention measures. Fraud in construction bonuses and EU funds underscores the need for advanced digital tools to track financial flows and detect suspicious transactions in real time. Only through a radical overhaul of the incentive system can future scandals be prevented.
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