Two Malaysian citizens have been charged with their alleged role in a union that fraudulently claimed nearly $ 500,000 in COVID-19 disaster payments.
Police allege the couple are part of a fraud syndicate that announced on social media that they were “agents” who could help people claim disaster payments from COVID-19, a global government payment for to people who were unable to work during the pandemic.
Clients who used the alleged fraudulent union operating under the guise of “agents” provided identity documents and some paid up to $ 1,000 to help make claims.
The Australian Police and Federal Services carried out search warrants. (AFP)
The union allegedly claimed $ 440,000 in payments for COVID-19 to vulnerable Australians during the pandemic.
A search warrant was issued earlier this week in Lidcombe where a man and a woman were arrested and charged.
The 34-year-old woman was charged with dealing with proceeds of crime and allegedly claimed about $ 40,000.
A 27-year-old man has also been charged with dealing with proceeds of crime and allegedly earned about $ 18,000.
The couple were given bail to appear in court next week.
Taskforce Integrity has been investigating government payment fraud. (AFP)
Australian Federal Police Commander Chris Woods said the organization was working “tirelessly” to prosecute anyone trying to “exploit the pandemic for their own greed”.
Services Australia Director General Hank Jongen said such arrests should be a warning to anyone seeking to defraud vulnerable people.
“We take fraud very seriously and have a responsibility to keep people from taking advantage of those who really need it,” Jongen said.