A Western Sydney man who became the first man arrested by the Australian Federal Police’s Taskforce Iris has been charged with an additional offence, after allegedly continuing to offend while awaiting his next court date.
Taskforce Iris, working in partnership with Services Australia, initially arrested the 34-year-old man at a property in Campbelltown on 30 April 2020.
It was alleged at the time the man had assumed up to 11 identities, as well as 53 fictitious identities, to submit a number of claims for Government benefits designed to assist members of the Community affected by COVID-19 and the bushfires recovery efforts in NSW.
The total value of fraudulent payments the man allegedly attempted to claim was approximately $70,500.
The man was charged with a range of Commonwealth fraud offences and was granted bail to appear before Campbelltown Local Court on 10 July 2020.
On 3 June 2020, the AFP’s Taskforce Iris, assisted by Services Australia, re-arrested the man at a property in Dulwich Hill, NSW following further investigations.
It is alleged the man had committed a further offence on 15 May 2020, attempting to fraudulently claim further benefits, as well as breaching his bail conditions on a number of occasions. The claim was not successful, and the man did not receive any money.
The 34-year-old is scheduled to appear in the Downing Centre Local Court today (Thursday, 4 June 2020), as a result of being charged with further offences.
The AFP’s Taskforce Iris is dedicated to targeting people and organised crime entities who plan to defraud the Governments COVID-19 support measures.
This case shows the strength of the collaboration between the AFP and Services Australia to detect, investigate and mitigate fraud.
Anyone with information about suspected fraud of Government benefits can make a report via the “Reporting Fraud” page on the Services Australia website at servicesaustralia.gov.au/fraud, or by calling the Australian Government Services Fraud Tip-off Line on 13 15 24.
