Modern-day mafia: A look at white-collar crime in Italy [Video]

MILAN –

Italy’s mafia rarely dirties its hands with blood these days.

Extortion rackets have gone out of fashion and murders are largely frowned upon by the godfathers. Just 17 people were killed by the mob in Italy in 2022, according to the latest official data, versus more than 700 in 1991.

Instead, mobsters have moved aggressively into the low-risk, low-key world of white-collar crime, senior Italian prosecutors told Reuters.

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The shift to tax evasion and financial fraud is being fuelled by billions of euros sloshing around Italy in post-COVID recovery funds that were designed to boost the economy but are proving a boon for fraudsters.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government revealed last month it had uncovered 16 billion euros (US$17 billion) of fraud tied to home improvement schemes.

Prosecutors are also looking into potentially massive abuse …