Five people arrested after alleged scam of the National Disability Insurance Scheme

Australian Federal Police have today arrested five people who scammed the NDIS out of at least $1.1m. This is what they bought.

Luxury cars including a Porsche are among a bounty of goods seized by Australian Federal Police in a sting in which five people were arrested on Wednesday for exploiting and stealing from disabled Australians.

The arrests in western Sydney follow what has been dubbed a “brazen scam” where the National Disability Insurance Scheme was defrauded of at least $1.1 million by an organised crime syndicate.

A Porsche Cayenne, an Audi A3 and Mercedes E63 were recovered, suspected of being purchased with fraudulent funds.

Luxury cars including a Porsche are among a bounty of goods seized by Australian Federal Police.

Five people were arrested on Wednesday for exploiting and stealing from disabled Australians.

According to a statement from the AFP, all five people were arrested at four residences in the western Sydney suburbs of Lurnea and Liverpool early on Wednesday morning.

Identities of the suspects were not released except for a 40-year-old man from Lurnea, a 35-year-old woman from Lurnea, a 27-year-old man, 30-year-old man and 27-year-old woman — all from Liverpool, in Sydney’s west.

A 22-year-old woman will also be issued a court attendance. Jail times if found guilty vary from 12 months imprisonment to up to 10 years.

Five people have been arrested in western Sydney following a joint agency investigation into an organised criminal syndicate suspected of defrauding the NDIS of millions of dollars. https://t.co/I3cDJvAHIz

— AFP (@AusFedPolice) May 22, 2019

A number of them are expected to be charged with a range of fraud and proceeds of crime offences while a sixth person will be issued a summons to appear before court to answer related charged at a later date.

“Taskforce investigators will allege in court that three registered NDIS providers controlled and exploited by those arrested today fraudulently claimed more than $1.1 million in NDIS payments from more than 70 people on disability plans, or those managing their affairs,” the statement read.

“Investigations into the true scale of this fraud are continuing, with more than 100 other potential victims identified through the three entities controlled by this syndicate — Universal Group Australia Pty Ltd, Reliance Disability Services and United Mission.”

The National Disability Insurance Scheme was defrauded of at least $1.1 million by an organised crime syndicate

A Porsche Cayenne, an Audi A3 and Mercedes E63 were recovered, suspected of being purchased with fraudulent funds.

The three entities are believed to have received more than $2.6 million in NDIS payments since December 2017. Further inquiries are required to determine whether these payments are legitimate or fraudulent.

“This is an organised criminal activity preying on those that society has chosen to help — it took money directly out of the pockets of NDIS participants, reducing their ability to obtain crucial assistance and services to help them lead their lives,” AFP Acting Commander Mark McIntyre, Manager Criminal Assets and Fraud and Anti-Corruption said.

“Unfortunately this is not an isolated case, and we will continue to work with our taskforce partners to identify those preying on our needy and bring them to account for their selfish and despicable actions.”

All five people were arrested at four residences in the western Sydney suburbs of Lurnea and Liverpool

Identities of the suspects were not released.

Acting CEO of the NDIA, Vicki Rundle, said the NDIS Fraud Taskforce was a partnership with a focus on high-risk and serious criminal activity targeting the NDIS.

“The NDIA is committed to working with families impacted by alleged fraud and ensuring they have their funds reinstated in their plans where appropriate,” she said.

“We want to make it clear that fraud of the NDIS will not be tolerated. The NDIA takes the matter of fraud very seriously and will continue to invest in our capability to continue to identify attempts to defraud the scheme”.

Jail times if found guilty vary from 12 months imprisonment to up to 10 years.