Would-be fraudsters warned as man charged with dishonest payment claims

Police tolerance for would-be natural disaster fraudsters has hit zero, after a 60-year-old man from Port Macquarie became the latest to be charged with making a false claim.

A 60-year-old man will face court for allegedly making a fraudulent bushfire recovery claim in the aftermath of the disaster which ravaged the Mid-North Coast 18 months ago.

Police remain tight-lipped on details of the man’s alleged offending, however Mid-North Coast Police Inspector Peter O’Reilly said it would be alleged in court the man dishonestly obtained a payment of $10,000 which should have been paid to bushfire victims.

A man will face court over alleged fraudulent bushfire claims.

The man from Port Macquarie was arrested and charged on Wednesday as part of ongoing investigations by Strike Force Roche, which was set-up to probe allegations of fraudulent bushfire payment claims.

The man has been charged with one count of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception and will appear in Port Macquarie Court at a later date.

Speaking to The Mid-North Coast News, Insp O’Reilly said the man’s alleged offending has led police to put other would-be offenders on notice that alleged activities would not be tolerated.

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“Strike Force Roche was established last year to investigate alleged frauds committed as a result of the government providing support payments to the community in the aftermath of the fires,” he said.

“Yesterday a 60-year-old man from Port Macquarie was arrested and charged with fraud relating to that strike force. It is an ongoing investigation and we do expect more arrests.

“It is very disappointing that people would see this as an opportunity for personal gain, when there are a lot of people out in the community who really are struggling.

“Whether it’s a flood payment, whether it’s fire payment or whether it’s a Centrelink payment, we will take action.”

Insp O’Reilly said the assistance of the public had been crucial in identifying instances of unusual payments and claims. Police are currently undertaking numerous investigations into separate fraud-related offences and more arrests are expected.

He encouraged more of the public’s assistance to help prosecute those responsible.

“People have been traumatised with fires and floods and we don’t need other people then building upon that trauma to take away from those people that are really in need,” he said.

“These sorts of behaviours are not going to be tolerated, we encourage members of the community to come forward and provide us with more information.“