Pair To Front Court Over Vehicle Inspection Racket At Singleton

 BY IAN CROUCH

Two people are due to front court next month accused of fraudulently issuing vehicle inspection reports at a Singleton business over the past 12 months.

Early last year, Muswellbrook Highway Patrol and and Transport for NSW commenced an investigation which allegedly found vehicle inspections were taking place without the mandatory checks taking place and in the absence of an authorised examiner.

Following extensive inquiries police arrested a 56-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman.

They've each been charged with a combined 216 offences relating to the issuing of false or misleading inspection reports and given court attendance notices to face Singleton Local Court on Thursday February 25.

Woman Charged With Defrauding Self Service Check Outs Across the Hunter of $145k

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A New Lambton woman has been charged with seven fraud offences after allegedly defrauding self assisted check out's across the Hunter. 

Newcastle Property Crime Team arrested the 33-year-old.

The frauds totaled $145,000 and were committed over several months, targeting self assisted check outs in Newcastle, Kotara and Rutherford.

She's been bail refused to appear in Newcastle Court.

Meanwhile, Newcastle Police have arrested a Cooks Hill man, after he was spotted in Newcastle West on a stolen bike.

The 37-year-old was arrested on Tuesday, and charged with;

• 2 x break & enters occurring in Hamilton
• possessing prohibited drugs
• carrying knife in public place
• possessing stolen goods
• 6 x Frauds in Hamilton using stolen cards
• stealing in Merewether and Broadmeadow

He's been refused bail to appear in Newcastle Court.

Police are continuing investigations.

Woman To Face Cessnock Court On Fraud Charges

 BY IAN CROUCH

 A woman is due to face Cessnock Local Court today (Wednesday 27 January, 2021) accused of fraudulently obtaining bushfire and COVID-19 government support recovery grants.

Hunter Valley detectives attended Kempsey gaol on January 7 where they charged a 32-year-old woman with eight counts of dishonestly obtain financial benefit by deception.

It's alleged the woman obtained six NSW Government grants amounting to $60,000.

Hunter Valley Woman Faces Court Over Alleged Bushfire and COVID-19 Assistance Fraud

 BY IAN CROUCH

 Strike force detectives have arrested and charged a Hunter Valley woman as part of ongoing investigations into alleged fraudulent claims for bushfire and COVID-19 assistance grants.

Police allege that between Thursday 12 March and Sunday 13 September 2020 the 31-year-old fraudulently applied for 34 grants, with 11 of those granted valued at $104,000.

It's also alleged the woman obtained a further $268,000 in grants to which she was not entitled.

Officers arrested Ellen Howard at an Aberdare home on Friday and charged her with 16 counts of dishonestly obtain financial benefit by deception.

She faced Newcastle Local Court on Saturday where her application for bail was refused.  

Lake Macquarie Man Charged - Allegedly Defrauds Bushfire Recovery Fund $110k to Buy Milling Machinery

 BY ISABEL EVERETT

Lake Macquarie police have charge a 37-year-old man with fraud offences over the alleged misuse of bushfire recovery funds.

Strike Force Roche began investigating alleged fraudulent claims for bushfire disaster relief and small business grants through government agencies.

Officers executed a search warrant at a home on McEwan Street, Belmont South, where they spoke with a 37-year-old man.

The man was charged with numerous offences after allegedly fraudulently obtaining $110,000 through government support grants.

During the search, police located and seized a milling machine, believed to have been purchased with alleged fraudulently obtained funds.

Officers also located and seized ammunition from the property.

The man was taken to Toronto Police Station and charged with one count of deal with proceeds of crime.

He was refused bail to appear at Toronto Local Court on Thursday. 

Man Who Allegedly Impersonated Medical Professional Slapped With Extra Fraud Charges

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A man who allegedly used several aliases to defraud clients of ten of thousands of dollars has been charged with eight additional offences, as part of an ongoing investigation in Lake Macquarie.

The 54-year-old allegedly used several aliases – as both a medical professional and a senior business executive – to fraudulently obtain $42,533 from clients between April 2019 and July 2020.

Lake Macquarie detectives established Strike Force Corymbia to investigate the alleged fraudulent offences, and he charged in June 2020.

Following further investigations, detectives arrested the man at a unit in Hamilton South around 6am on Tuesday morning. 

He was taken to Newcastle Police Station and charged with an additional eight offences, including:

• Obtain financial advantage by deception
• Dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception (x2)
• Use false document to obtain property
• Aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence (x2)
• Do act intending to pervert the course of justice (x2)

He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday. 

Investigations under Strike Force Corymbia are continuing.

Anyone who may have information which could assist investigators is urged to come forward.

BREAKING! Mayfield Couple Arrested Over Credit Card Fraud Ofences

BY IAN CROUCH

A short stand-off has ended with the arrest of two people at Mayfield overnight.

Police investigating the alleged theft of credit cards from motor vehicles over the past couple of days went to a Hanbury Street address at about 11.00pm on Wednesday.

Police say the stolen cards were used to make fraudulent Paywave purchases from service stations.

Two residents initially refused police demands to come out but surrendered to officers a short time later.

A couple in their 30's have been charged with obtaining a benefit by deception.

The male has been refused bail to face Newcastle Local Court today (Thursday March 5) while the woman has been granted conditional bail to face court on March 26.

Gateshead Man to Face Court Over Alleged Fraud Offenses

BY GEMMA FERGUSON

Police arrested a 25-year-old man at a Lake Macquarie property on Wednesday, after police seized a number of items believed to purchased with fraudulent funds.

Police seized items including batteries, spray paints and household goods, after executing a search warrant at around 10am at a home on Cassia Crescent in Gateshead.

Police will allege he purchased the goods from several Newcastle and Lake Macquarie building supplies stores using purchase cards stolen from a Charlestown business.

The man was arrested at the scene but suffered a medical episode shortly after.

NSW Ambulance paramedics were called for an assessment, where they treated the man at the scene.

He was then taken to Belmont Police Station where he was charged with five counts of dishonestly obtaining property by deception, and two counts of receiving stolen property.

The man was granted conditional bail to appear at Belmont Local Court on Wednesday, 26 February.

Tuncurry Man Charged Over Allegedly Fraudulently Obtaining Disaster Relief Payments

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A 50-year-old Tuncurry man has been charged with allegedly fraudulently obtaining Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payments he was not entitled to related to the NSW Bushfires. 

The man allegedly dishonestly influenced Services Australia officials, by making claims for disaster payments and benefits on behalf of members of the public not adversely affected by the bushfires.

In November 2019, Services Australia received information from concerned community members and commenced an investigation into the man’s alleged activities.

 Australian Federal Police (AFP) joined the investigation in January, and on Wednesday, Services Australia investigators and AFP and NSW Police officers, executed a search warrant at the man’s residence in Tuncurry, NSW. 

On Thursday AFP officers arrested the man after information was received he was allegedly threatening potential witnesses.

Police will allege in court that the man was assisting members of the public to fraudulently obtain $1000 benefit payments by calling the hotline on their behalf.

He was charged with:

• Six counts of obtaining a financial advantage by deception contrary to section 134.2(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth), which has a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment.

• One count of influencing a Commonwealth public official contrary to section 135.1(7) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth), which has a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment.

AFP Commander Eastern Region Investigation Kirsty Schofield said the AFP is committed to working closely with government agencies to identify people taking advantage of schemes designed to help vulnerable communities in a time of need.

“This arrest should serve as a reminder to those planning to take advantage of those programs in place to help Australians during these difficult times. This criminal activity will not be taken lightly, especially when it takes time, effort and money away from programs set up to help people at a traumatic time in their lives,” Cmdr. Schofield said.

The man has been remanded in custody to appear in court on Tuesday, 7 April 2020. 

Suspected welfare fraud can be reported via the “Reporting Fraud” page on the Services Australia website at servicesaustralia.gov.au/fraud, or by calling the Australian Government Services Fraud Tip-off Line on 13 15 24.

                                Image Credit: Australian Federal Police

Man Charged After Pursuit Ends With Dramatic Arrest At Newcastle University

BY IAN CROUCH

A man is due to face court today on fraud charges following a dramatic pursuit which ended with arrest on campus at the University of Newcastle.

It's alleged the 32-year-old was involved in two pursuits in a white Toyota Camry on Tuesday afternoon which began in Christie Avenue at Tarro.

He then drove into the University, coming to a dead end where he fled on foot before being surrounded and arrested at gun point.

Police allege there was a large amount of stolen property in the car including 13 different registration plates, credit cards, a wallet and 5 mobile phones.

He's been charged with 10 offences and has been refused bail.

Officers swoop to arrest the man on the grounds of the University of Newcastle Picture: NBN News

Hunter Women Charged with Port Stephens Pursuit, Fraud

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

Two women from Newcastle are accused of leading police on a lengthy pursuit from Tea Gardens to the Mid North Coast.

Police say the 27-year-old from Windale and the 24-year-old from Bar Beach posed as interested buyers in order to steal cars advertised for sale online.

It's alleged the pair ditched a damaged Mazda 6 - allegedly stolen from an address at Bolworra Heights - at West Tea Gardens on Thursday, November 15 before stealing a Toyota Hilux and driving on the wrong side of the Pacific Highway.

The pursuit ended when the car was forced to stop in heavy traffic on the Forster-Tuncurry Bridge.

Police arrested the two women and took them to Maitland Police Station where they were charged with multiple offences including steal motor vehicle, police pursuit – not stop – drive manner dangerous, dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception, aggravated break and enter, drive motor vehicle during disqualification period, having goods in custody suspected of being stolen, and shoplifting.

They were refused bail and will appear in Forster Local Court today. 

$150k Fraudster Arrested in Maryland

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

A Maryland man has been charged with fraud offences after swindling $150,000 from unsuspecting Novocastrians.

It's alleged the 36-year-old has completed several contracts with people who had no knowledge the man was using their details to buy a huge sum of tickets and merchandise.

The man was arrested around 2 o' clock yesterday morning in his Maryland home.

He has been charged with five counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception and has an outstanding warrant which is fraud related. 

Cameron Park Woman Arrested Over $240,000 Fraud

BY IAN CROUCH

Lake Macquarie police have arrested a 48-year-old woman over an alleged $240,000 fraud at Cardiff.

The owner of a local business alerted police when he discovered a number of anomalies in the accounting records.

Following investigations, police arrested the woman at her Cameron Park home on Saturday afternoon.

She's been charged with two counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception and destroy or conceal accounting record to obtain an advantage.

The woman's been granted conditional bail to face Toronto Local Court on May 1.