Yahoo Finance Man arrested for allegedly fraudulent JobSeeker claims
The federal government's taskforce that traces government money handed out for coronavirus relief has made its first arrest.
Minister for home affairs Peter Dutton told parliament on Wednesday that a 34-year-old man from western Sydney has been arrested, facing accusations he made false claims for two JobSeeker payments plus the coronavirus supplement.
The man allegedly impersonated 11 real people and 53 fictional identities to submit claims for government welfare totalling $70,000, according to Dutton.
An Australian Federal Police spokesperson confirmed the arrest to Yahoo Finance.
"The AFP’s Taskforce Iris executed search warrants at a motel in Campbelltown and a property in Bass Hill on Thursday 30 April, assisted by staff of Services Australia, where a 34-year-old Western Sydney man was arrested," said the spokesperson.
The man was charged with one count of obtaining financial advantage by deception and two counts of attempting to do so. If convicted he could face 10 years jail.
The man is due to appear at Campbelltown Local Court on July 20 after being granted bail.
With the government spending billions of dollars in coronavirus relief, Taskforce Iris was established to catch those that try to claim fraudulent payments.
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