CANBERRA, ACT, Nov. 4 -- Australian Federal Police issued the following media release:
This is a joint media release between partners of the Australian Government Fraud Fusion Taskforce.
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The Australian Government's Fraud Fusion Taskforce (FFT) has charged five people with fraud-related offences during a coordinated national operation targeting entities which allegedly took $235 million in fraudulent Australian Government Payments and Programs (AGPPs) claims.
During operational activity named Operation Integrity Fusion, investigators seized 44 digital devices and 37 cloud-based accounts containing more than 28 terabytes of data from 26 search warrants across Adelaide, the Central Coast, Melbourne, rural Queensland and Sydney.
Investigators also confiscated more than $120,000 in cash, $15,000 in silver bullion, $11,000 in gold coins, and approximately $60,000 worth of jewellery. Documents and other material relevant to ongoing investigations were also seized.
Operation Integrity Fusion relates to alleged fraud across four Australian Government agencies; Department of Education, Department of Veterans' Affairs, National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), and Services Australia.
The Operation Integrity Fusion period of action was coordinated in partnership with the whole-of-Australian Government Financial Crime and Money Laundering (FCML) Working Group over a three-month period.
Operational activity involved 108 police officers and 156 personnel from the Department of Education, Department of Veterans' Affairs, National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, and Services Australia. The activity was further supported by members of the NSW Police Force, Queensland Police Service, South Australia Police and Victoria Police.
Across seven investigations, authorities identified approximately $235 million in actual and potential fraud.
It will be alleged those charged defrauded government agencies by unlawfully obtaining personal or government-held information and claiming government-funded rebates and benefits for services that were either not provided, or only partially delivered.
Investigations under Operation Integrity Fusion remain ongoing, and further arrests have not been ruled out.
AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Stephen Raper said defrauding government agencies is a deliberate effort to take money which ultimately comes from the taxpayer.
"Service providers are there to support Australians who need it, and while the majority do the right thing, there are groups in our country who selfishly rort the system for their own personal gain," Detective Acting Superintendent Raper said.
"We continue to work with our partners in the Fraud Fusion Taskforce to stop targeted fraud which steals the money of honest and hard-working Australians and is a threat to Australia's national security. Law enforcement and our partners will not stop in our pursuit of these people."
A Department of Education spokesperson said childcare subsidies are for those who need it.
"Ensuring providers correctly claim Child Care Subsidy protects the integrity of the early childhood education and care sector," the spokesperson said.
"It ensures that the Child Care Subsidy is available for families with a genuine need for childcare. Anonymous tip offs about childcare fraud can be made online via the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) tip-off form."
A Department of Veterans' Affairs spokesperson said funding for veterans' health and wellbeing is there to support those who have served our nation, not to be exploited for personal gain.
"The overwhelming majority of providers do the right thing, regrettably some do not. Where we identify suspected fraud or serious non-compliance, DVA will act," the spokesperson said.
"Veterans and their families place their trust in providers to support them, and we will continue working with the AFP and our Fraud Fusion Taskforce partners to protect the integrity of the veteran support system."
An NDIA spokesperson said safeguarding the NDIS participants was vital.
"NDIS funding is for participant supports, not the pockets of those seeking to exploit the scheme," the spokesperson said.
"We have strengthened our systems to help prevent fraud, detect suspicious claims earlier and protect funding participants rely on. This action shows how stronger systems and close cooperation with our Fraud Fusion Taskforce partners are defeating fraud."
NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commissioner Louise Glanville said providers who seek to exploit NDIS funding for personal gain should expect strong regulatory scrutiny.
"Fraud undermines the integrity of the NDIS and diverts funding away from its intended purpose, and the NDIS Commission remains focused on identifying and responding to serious provider misconduct wherever it occurs," Commissioner Glanville said.
"Protecting the integrity of the NDIS requires a coordinated effort, and we will continue to identify, disrupt and take action against those seeking to misuse Scheme funding."
A Services Australia spokesperson said the work of the Fraud Fusion Taskforce not only helps agencies detect and disrupt serious fraud, but it also protects Australians.
"Through the Fraud Fusion Taskforce, we're disrupting scammers who attempt to steal people's personal information to access their myGov accounts and commit fraud," the spokesperson said.
"These people aren't just targeting government payments, they're targeting payments that Australians rely on to support themselves and their families.
"Operation Integrity Fusion shows the value of agencies working together through the Fraud Fusion Taskforce to identify serious offending, disrupt it and protect both customers and the social security system."
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