Claudette Munday charged with using dozens of fake identities to defraud Black Summer bushfire relief fund

A south coast woman allegedly used 59 false identities - including her deceased grandmother’s - to make claims for dozens of false Black Summer bushfire relief payments, even after her arrest.

A south coast woman allegedly used 59 false identities, including her sons and deceased grandmother, to try to claim $59,000 in Black Summer bushfire relief cash.

Claudette Munday, 46, of Eden, did not face Bega Local Court on October 26 after she was slapped with a further 24 fresh charges including obtaining a financial advantage by deception, dishonestly causing a loss and attempting to commit an offence of advantage by deception.

Earlier this year she was charged with 18 counts of obtaining a financial advantage by deception and 17 counts of attempting to commit an offence.

She is yet to enter a plea.

The south coast was hit by the devastating Black Summer bushfires almost two years ago. Picture: Sean Davey

Prosecutors for the Office of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions told the court a USB containing “large files” of evidence had been sent to Ms Munday’s lawyer.

Court documents reveal Ms Munday allegedly received $18,000 in Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payments between February 11 and August 3 last year, after making alleged false claims.

They state Ms Munday allegedly used dozens of fake identities before Services Australia cottoned on to her alleged scamming.

On the claim forms Ms Munday allegedly claimed the homes of the dozens of fake identities had been damaged by smoke during the devastating Black Summer bushfires.

She allegedly continued to apply for the $1000 payments into June this year, even using her deceased mother’s name as well as two of her sons.

Claudette Munday will face Bega Local Court next month. Picture: Google Maps

The one-off, non-means tested payments of $1000 per eligible adult and $400 per child are available for residents adversely affected by a major disaster either in Australia or overseas.

The documents state Ms Munday’s claims were investigated by Services Australia’s taskforce integrity and fraud investigation branch before her arrest in February this year.

Despite her arrest in February, the documents state Ms Munday allegedly made 24 further attempts at claiming the $1000 payment, the documents state.

She faces a maximum penalty of ten years behind bars if convicted.

Magistrate Doug Dick adjourned the matter to November 23 at Bega Local Court.

He told the court he is expecting Ms Munday to enter a plea.