NSW police arrest man over bushfire and Covid relief fraud worth $550,000 at Emu Plains

A man has been arrested following an investigation into alleged fraudulent offences valued at over $550,000.

Earlier this year, officers attached to Nepean Police Area Command established Strike Force Landa after reports a man had allegedly accessed fraudulent payments from various charitable organisations and NSW Government disaster relief payment schemes, designed for victims of bushfire and COVID-19.

During the investigation, detectives identified that between February and October 2020 the man allegedly lodged a number of fraudulent payment applications worth over $550,000 – with $85,500 of the applications successful.

Following extensive inquiries, about 7am today, (Monday 1 November 2021), police arrested a 36-year-old man at an address on Pellatt Place, Emu Plains.

He was taken to St Mary’s Police Station, where charges are expected to be laid.

Investigations are continuing.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.

/Public Release. View in full here.