Operation Blot: 26-year-old Warwick man charged after police sting uncovered mammoth alleged fraud scheme

A Warwick man has been charged after a police investigation uncovered an alleged fraud empire spanning three years involving a sophisticated scheme where the 26-year-old allegedly helped motorists dodge $141,000 in fines.

Person in handcuffs

A Warwick man will face court in October after a police operation found the man had allegedly processed “hundreds” of falsified documents.

The 26-year-old has been charged with numerous fraud offences after police shut down what they allege was a “cash for demerit points” scheme

A police sting, dubbed Operation Blot, uncovered hundreds of allegedly falsely nominated tickets after the man advertised on social media that he would take fines and demerit points for people in exchange for money.

Police believe that in total the operation involved more than 200 camera detection notices worth about $141,000 in fines, and 695 demerit points.

In a statement, police alleged the operation would involve “customers” contacting the man who would then nominate himself as being the driver for the offence. After receiving the ticket, police alleged he would then sign the ticket over to an unsuspecting third party who was the victim of identity theft.

He was arrested in Warwick on August 8, and has been granted bail, facing charges including one count of carrying on the business of fraud, attempting to pervert the course of justice, and three counts of obtaining identification information. He will face Warwick Magistrates Court on October 23.

In a statement, Acting Chief Superintendent Janelle Andrews of the Road Policing Group said the operation had been run jointly by officers from Road Policing Investigations Unit and detectives from the Cybercrime Unit.

“Inquiries were commenced after one of the alleged victims of crime contacted police regarding $20,000 worth of fines he had received,” Acting Chief Superintendent Andrews said in a press release.

Warwick police station and courthouse. (Photo: File)

“The subsequent investigation uncovered what is alleged to be an illegal business enterprise, operating for at least three years, involving more than 200 camera-detected offence notices worth approximately $141,000 in fines and 695 demerit points.”

Young and inexperienced drivers, who should have had their licence suspended, made up a large number of people allegedly involved in the scheme.

“This man has allegedly attempted to undermine the integrity of the road safety system in Queensland by allowing the actual drivers involved in these infringement offences to escape penalty,” Acting Chief Superintendent Andrews said in a statement.

“People may see this sort of thing as a victimless crime, but the demerit point penalty system is in place to ensure that drivers who commit offences on the road are incentivised to improve their driving behaviour.”

Detective Superintendent Craig McGrath, Commander of the Financial and Cyber Crime Group said in a press release that police took this offending very seriously.

He warned that any person who was conducting or participating in these schemes would be detected and prosecuted.

“The Cybercrime Unit continue to investigate and disrupt serious and organised online offending,” Detective Superintendent McGrath said in a statement.

“This individual is alleged to have financially profited from an online criminal enterprise unlawfully assisting drivers to circumvent the licence demerit point process. The fact that attempts to cheat the system utilised online platforms does not mean anyone involved will escape identification or punishment.

“Engaging in this behaviour online does not grant you anonymity and all efforts will be made by investigators to locate those involved and prosecute them for their part in this criminal scheme.”