Case studies

A Bangladeshi national created documents using the then Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship seal in an effort to extract fees for visa applications, which were never lodged. He defrauded 23 Singapore-based Bangladeshi construction workers. He was also found to have falsely represented himself as an immigration official to seven people in July 2011 during which he told the ‘applicants’ their visa applications had been delayed but would be progressed. Following payment of the initial fee of $1,510, the applicants were asked to pay further fees for medical examinations.

Vulnerabilities within the Australian Government’s Home Insulation Scheme led to systemic fraud. By April 2010 there were 961 cases where more than one insulator had submitted a claim for payment for insulating the same premises. All were referred for further investigation.

An employee defrauded $19 million from her company. The senior accountant used her access to the company's payroll and superannuation accounts to steal the money. The company collapsed shortly afterwards which led to 1,300 people losing their jobs. The accountant pleaded guilty to 24 counts of theft and was sentenced to 8 years in prison.