Jonathan A. does not hide his scam. As if to mock the German taxpayer, he regularly posts on social media as “Mr. Cash Money” (German: “Mr. Cash”) impressions of his tax-funded life of luxury. He sometimes shows off his fleet, which includes a BMW 3 Series, a Mercedes SUV or an Audi sedan. He sometimes films himself handing out banknotes to crowds in his former homeland, Nigeria.

German authorities have long known the origin of Jonathan's wealth. In the ARD magazine “Kontraste”, experts describe in detail how Jonathan gradually recognizes his paternity with African women from different nations. Since Jonathan has German citizenship, all of his formal children and his mother automatically receive a residence permit in Germany and the right to receive financial assistance from the German state.

Jonathan, scammer father: “I had a lot of women, it's nothing special”

Jonathan's family, which now numbers 94 members, costs the Federal Republic, and therefore German taxpayers, more than €1.5 million a year. He himself appears calm on the subject. “Bild” came to the Nigerian through his ex-partner, who lives in Dortmund with her three children. On his phone it is saved as “Papa Nelson.”

On the phone he is surprised by the interest they arouse in him and briefly explains that he has many children. “I just had a lot of wives and a lot of children too. But that's nothing special. At least in Nigeria.” She can also explain his case.

He has heard about the accusations against him, but does not believe they are justified. “I didn't do anything wrong, this is my big family,” says Jonathan A. When asked why he referred to the videos as “Mr. Cash Money” he posted on TikTok, but he can't give a conclusive answer. The Nigerian does not attend an agreed meeting at his apartment in Dortmund. His phone also remains permanently switched off after the conversation.

Jonathan raises more than 20,000 euros a month and spends it on himself

Police investigations have shown that Jonathan accepts money for his family: more than 20,000 euros per month. However, he almost never passes it on to his wives and children, reports “Bild”.

On the contrary: Jonathan seems to receive a kind of remuneration from his wives for his right of residence, so that his income is even higher than the total social assistance benefits. It seems that he only transfers 388 euros per month to one of his wives, who has two children.

Despite all these conclusions, the authorities have their hands tied: once paternity is recognized, according to German law it can no longer be revoked. Even in extreme cases, such as after proven child abuse, paternity remains intact.

Pseudoparents bring their children to Germany

But this should not be an isolated case. Already in 2017 (the latest figures on improperly recognized paternity come from this year) the annual damages amounted to more than 150 million euros, according to “Bild”. According to Bild, the total annual damage caused by social fraud in Germany is estimated at 113 billion euros.

But that is only partially correct. According to ZDF, the figure is correct, but it includes tax fraud. While the damages caused by social fraud amount to 20.5 billion euros, according to their calculations as of 2023, two other items are even higher. Classic tax evasion (38.4 billion euros) and tax and social security fraud due to undeclared work (54.1 billion euros) cause even greater damage.

In Germany, a serious legal loophole is being taken advantage of to fraudulently obtain residence permits and social benefits. Men recognize paternity of children from abroad with whom they are not related. This means that these children and their mothers receive a right of residence in Germany. A circumstance that not only causes problems for the authorities, but also for social security funds, as reported by “tagesschau.de”.

Offices are overloaded

German immigration authorities are facing an increasing number of suspected cases, with women from West Africa and the Western Balkans particularly affected. Without a unified civil registry, the verification capacity of registry offices is limited, making it difficult to determine how many children have already been recognized by a man.

Axel Boshamer, from the highest immigration authority of the Arnsberg district government, expresses concern about the “systematic abuse of paternity recognition.” As he explained to the Tagesschau, false paternity allows people who normally have no prospects of remaining in Germany to obtain residence rights by paying a fee.

The recognition of paternity in exchange for money to make the right of residence possible is not directly punishable. A case currently being heard in the Berlin courts deals with this issue. A gang is said to have organized paternity acknowledgments to give women in Vietnam the right to stay.

State costs and lack of compliance with the law

Although bills to close this gap have so far failed, justice ministries and immigration authorities are pushing for the law to be adjusted. The Federal Ministry of Justice has announced a new draft law, but without specifying a fixed date.

A loophole in the law makes it possible for registry offices, youth welfare offices and consular officials to recognize paternity without being able to effectively monitor abuse.