Warner’s Bay woman charged over four counts bushfire, COVID grants fraud

A Warner’s Bay woman has been charged with fraud offences after she allegedly applied for coronavirus and bushfire government grants.

A Warner’s Bay woman has been charged with bushfire fraud offences. Istock

Lake Macquarie detectives have arrested a Hunter woman who has allegedly been involved in a large scale bushfire, COVID grants scam, which has netted nearly $20 million across the state.

The 27-year-old from Warner’s Bay presented to Belmont Police Station on Wednesday for unrelated matters and was then charged.

The woman is facing four counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, where police allege she defrauded Services NSW out of more than $20,000 between April and August, by applying for small business grants available for bushfire and coronavirus victims.

Police also allege she made attempts to defraud the government agency a further $40,000.

She was granted conditional bail and will appear at Belmont Local Court in January.

Strike Force Roche has been set up to investigate several dozen people for alleged fraud across NSW.

Inquiries continue.