Case studies

Three Queensland women allegedly submitted several fraudulent applications to attempt to access early release of superannuation totalling $113,500. Police allege that the women, who are allegedly linked to a sophisticated crime gang, collected identity data in order to access the superannuation accounts of unsuspecting victims. The women were arrested following investigations by the Serious Financial Crime Taskforce.

A Sydney man and his sister submitted 77 online applications to the Australian Electoral Commission in an attempt to falsely enrol or update voter details in the lead up to an election. The applications contained false address information. The man was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment, and his co-accused received a suspended 2 month jail sentence.

A woman has been charged for allegedly helping a friend “hack” into the online account of a 56-year-old man and transferring $239,000 worth of cryptocurrency into her own account. In a first of its kind case in Australia, the woman pleaded guilty to dishonestly causing a financial disadvantage by deception and knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime. The woman was convicted and jailed for a maximum of 2 years and 3 months.

A Sydney GP has been arrested for his alleged involvement in a “crash and earn” insurance fraud. The man allegedly created fraudulent medical records and certificates based on fabricated vehicle crashes. The man also allegedly produced false medical certificates for university students.

Two Commonwealth employees and an associate have been charged with conspiracy to defraud the Commonwealth and abuse of public office. Police allege that the trio used inside knowledge obtained in the course of their employment at the Department of Finance to direct IT contracts to ‘preferred suppliers.’ The trio then allegedly used kickbacks to buy and renovate properties. Police have frozen $7.8 million in assets as part of the investigation.

Multiple people have been charged and convicted as part of Operation Elbrus which revealed a group of people were using payroll services companies to divert pay-as-you-go withholding tax and goods and services tax owed to the ATO. The group is alleged to have defrauded the Commonwealth of over $105 million over three years. Sixteen people have been charged, with multiple being convicted and sentenced to prison.