Encounter Bay woman caught after allegedly falsely claiming nearly $20k in government grants

An Encounter Bay woman will face court after it’s alleged she defrauded the government nearly $20,000.

An Encounter Bay woman is set to face court after allegedly defrauding nearly $20,000 from the government Murray River flood recovery grant scheme.

Police allege a woman, 47, of Encounter Bay, submitted false applications to the Department for Industry, Innovation and Science related to the Early Business Closure Grant and Small Business Flood Recovery Grant.

The grant initiative was launched as a result of the Murray River floods from 2022 to 2023.

Police said the woman allegedly committed the offences between December 21, 2022 to March 21, last year.

Detectives arrested a 47-year-old over alleged fraudulent claims of the government’s Murray River Floods recovery grants scheme. Picture: File

Detectives from the Serious and Organised Financial Crime Investigation Section attended a home at Encounter Bay and arrested the 47-year-old on Monday February 19, around 10.30am.

She was charged with one count of deception – which amounted to about $10,000 – and one count of dishonest dealings with documents, totalling about $6,543.

She was bailed to appear at the Victor Harbor Magistrates Court on April 5.

Officers from the Serious and Organised Financial Crime Investigation Section are continuing their investigation, while working with the Department for Industry, Innovation and Science to identify any further fraudulent applications.