Italy: Searches and seizures in investigation into suspected fraud involving fictitious employee training courses

(Luxembourg, 24 September 2026) – On behalf of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Naples (Italy), the Economic and Financial Police Unit of the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) in Salerno carried out searches and seizures today in an investigation into suspected fraud involving fictitious employee training courses. 

The investigation originated from a tax audit carried out by the Guardia di Finanza in Salerno in 2025 at a company operating in the waste-management sector.

According to the investigation, a cooperative issued invoices for employee training courses that were never provided to workers of the company. It is believed that these fictitious training activities were used to support applications for public funding intended to promote workforce training and skills development.

The evidence revealed that the company obtained like that more than €6.6 million under Italy's New Skills Fund, a workforce training programme co-financed through the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and unlawfully claimed an additional €500 000 in tax credits linked to employee training.

The investigation further established that the proceeds of the alleged fraud were subsequently used to finance the companies’ business activities, including payments to employees and suppliers.

The Guardia di Finanza is currently executing an urgent freezing order of €6 million at the request of the EPPO.

The EPPO investigation concerns suspected fraud affecting the financial interests of the European Union. In parallel, the Public Prosecutor’s Office at the Court of Nocera Inferiore (Italy) is investigating suspected bankruptcy-related offences concerning the same suspects. The searches and freezing measures were coordinated between the two prosecution offices.

All persons concerned are presumed innocent until proven guilty in the competent Italian courts of law.

The EPPO is the independent public prosecution office of the European Union. It is responsible for investigating, prosecuting and bringing to judgment crimes against the financial interests of the EU.