Reporting fraudsters is near-on impossible

[SlowRide]

I've got a bone to pick but it seems my concerns are destined to fall on deaf ears. My mum has an acquaintance/friend that gets all her mail delivered to my mothers address under various aliases, and I know from many conversations with this woman she's defrauding the system at every opportunity... I suspect to the tune of tens of thousands per year... at the very least. This person isn't a violent type, but i'm concerned my mother's naivety is eventually going to see her legally implicated by her friend's goings-on. I've actually been house-sitting for my mother this last fortnight while she's over east at a funeral/holiday, and in that time i've received half-a-dozen letters on behalf of this acquaintance... and I know they're all for this woman as they all carry names akin to her heritage... which is far removed from our family heritage.

Things I know about this woman from first hand conversations:
- she an accountant working for a big mining company, earning close to six-figures a year
- she lives in government housing
- she's on a disability pension
- she receives single parent allowances
- she's bought houses in each of her parents names, claiming the first home buyers grant each time, despite the fact these parents have never lived in or been residents of Australia. And her parents both have seniors cards.
- there's more, but I can't be bothered typing it all up.

I've known about this fraudster for at least a year, and in that time i've ran the situation past the local police, Centrelink, the ATO (via the phone and in person), my local MP... but I am met with nothing but indifference or unbearable bureaucracy on every front.

I have all the necessary information to have this woman exposed, but unless I want to spend hours filling out countless forms (and all it takes is one uncertain answer to a question to have the whole process annulled) - I can't make any headway. I've even contacted A Current Affair as a last-ditched effort, but no surprises they're yet to get back to me.

What should I do? Why is it this hard to expose fraud?

[SlowRide]

I should mention i'm pretty uncomfortable 'ratting' on someone like this, but her bragging is insufferable, and i'm mostly concerned my mother is being groomed for future objectives.

[BathurstTom]

Number one thing that I would do is stop your mother accepting the mail for this woman - there is a good chance she could be charged as an accomplice. Whilst your mum could probably get out of it, it could be a long and painful process.

Secondly, I would write to the Federal minister asking for help whilst mentioning that if no help was forthcoming that you would make it public including the inactivity of the minister - perhaps through the shadow minister.

I think it was Ralph Nader that said don't work against politicians - use them.


Good luck.


Tom,

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Start returning the mail not known at this address.

See what happens then,

[shining]

Have you tried calling 131 524
Reporting Fraud (http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/information/fraud-and-security)
It might be an option.

It makes my blood boil. Good luck.

[loneranger]

I've got a bone to pick but it seems my concerns are destined to fall on deaf ears. My mum has an acquaintance/friend that gets all her mail delivered to my mothers address under various aliases, and I know from many conversations with this woman she's defrauding the system at every opportunity... I suspect to the tune of tens of thousands per year... at the very least. This person isn't a violent type, but i'm concerned my mother's naivety is eventually going to see her legally implicated by her friend's goings-on. I've actually been house-sitting for my mother this last fortnight while she's over east at a funeral/holiday, and in that time i've received half-a-dozen letters on behalf of this acquaintance... and I know they're all for this woman as they all carry names akin to her heritage... which is far removed from our family heritage.

Things I know about this woman from first hand conversations:
- she an accountant working for a big mining company, earning close to six-figures a year
- she lives in government housing
- she's on a disability pension
- she receives single parent allowances
- she's bought houses in each of her parents names, claiming the first home buyers grant each time, despite the fact these parents have never lived in or been residents of Australia. And her parents both have seniors cards.
- there's more, but I can't be bothered typing it all up.

I've known about this fraudster for at least a year, and in that time i've ran the situation past the local police, Centrelink, the ATO (via the phone and in person), my local MP... but I am met with nothing but indifference or unbearable bureaucracy on every front.

I have all the necessary information to have this woman exposed, but unless I want to spend hours filling out countless forms (and all it takes is one uncertain answer to a question to have the whole process annulled) - I can't make any headway. I've even contacted A Current Affair as a last-ditched effort, but no surprises they're yet to get back to me.

What should I do? Why is it this hard to expose fraud?

Have a look at the websites for the above govt organizations. They should have online forms that you can complete to make fraud referrals. Provide as much detail as you can including all known names.

The ATO link to tax evasion is on the front page if their website:
https://www.ato.gov.au/General/How-we-check-compliance/In-detail/Cash-economy/Report-tax-evasion/What-is-tax-evasion-/

https://olt.ato.gov.au/terc/default.asp'sid=15122020051803

[SlowRide]

Have a look at the websites for the above govt organizations. They should have online forms that you can complete to make fraud referrals. Provide as much detail as you can including all known names.

The ATO link to tax evasion is on the front page if their website:
https://www.ato.gov.au/General/How-we-check-compliance/In-detail/Cash-economy/Report-tax-evasion/What-is-tax-evasion-/

https://olt.ato.gov.au/terc/default.asp'sid=15122020051803


I've already done all this. That's why i've started a thread here complaining about the difficulty of exposing fraudsters. I've literally spent hours filling out various forms, hours again on the phone as i'm shuffled between departments/agencies that directly handle these affairs. I've had face-to-face dealings with Centrelink, local police, the ATO and my local MP with photocopies and photographs of the complete list of alias names arriving at the house, and the full details (DOB, driver license no, address, former addresses, names of kids, name of ex-husband, birth name, maiden name, new name... etc) and the known frauds of the person in question. But despite my best efforts - my wide ranging efforts - no one seems to give a shyte. As I said i've been met with nothing but indifference or unbearable bureaucracy at each turn... it's wryly humorous.

It was a game to me to see who'd be the first to demonstrate concern, but for now i'm fed up. I'm certainly not going to run the same gambit again and again and again and again until the mud finally sticks... i've got better ways to spend my time. Instead i'll focus my efforts on keeping my mum safe from any direct or indirect fraudulent implications.

[Jojo]

Sounds hilarious, your odyssey... Shame on the *** system. You don't know any inquisitive journalists in your vicinity? A wee note about the authorities' obvious lack of activity in the local paper may do wonders.

[damiane]

Start returning the mail not known at this address.

See what happens then,

What an excellent solution.

You're first concern must be your mother's position in all this. Have you raised this with her? Was there some explanation given to her by the "suspect" as to why she was being asked to receive and, presumably, look after, this suspicious mail? As a former prosecutor I can tell you there is at least a possibility that your mother could be charged as an aider and abettor. Whether she would ever be convicted is another matter but there would be the pain of police interview, charging, waiting for trial and so on. No one needs that especially if she is innocent.

Have you looked inside any of these letters addressed to names other than the "suspect"? Maybe doing so will give you a clue to follow to get some action.

[ATH]

Problem at times seems to be we are absolutely run over with bureaucracy covering all activities and things must be done according to the rules.
I know a bloke who is always committing fraud by claiming breakins/theft or storm/rain damage to a house he's renovating but I've never had the opportunity to dob him in until recently.
So I contact Crime Stoppers WA and tell them I have security footage on a USB showing certain night time activities and ask if I can take it to the local nick.
That would be OK they say....but when I take it to the cops they say I should send it in to CS.
I asked why as that would take time and their reply "They're the crime stoppers and we're Police"!!!!!!
WTF?
Aren't they all supposedly doing the same thing?
But as this is the same 24hr nick which suffered major damage to the front entrance when a yob drove his ute through the doors and set it alight and no one noticed until someone rang them, I shouldn't be surprised really.
Good luck with getting someone to take notice and get your Mum off the possible charge of conspiracy etc.
AlanH.

[Greatsouthernland]

Perhaps contact a lawyer, on behalf of your mother.

You won't get legal advice that's truly relevant here. Don't open the letters before such advice, as this may complicate things and implicate yourself (there are laws relating to mail tampering, yes there are laws around using the postal system to gain advantage too, as you allege this woman is doing, so be careful).

Goodluck to your mum, you are thinking along the right path to act first, it's the legal advice I think you may need, that's sometimes another 'journey'...;)


...Must say I'm disgusted those govt agencies showed no interest, yet if you make a silly mistake on a form - they treat you like a crim!

[BMKal]

Problem at times seems to be we are absolutely run over with bureaucracy covering all activities and things must be done according to the rules.
I know a bloke who is always committing fraud by claiming breakins/theft or storm/rain damage to a house he's renovating but I've never had the opportunity to dob him in until recently.
So I contact Crime Stoppers WA and tell them I have security footage on a USB showing certain night time activities and ask if I can take it to the local nick.
That would be OK they say....but when I take it to the cops they say I should send it in to CS.
I asked why as that would take time and their reply "They're the crime stoppers and we're Police"!!!!!!
WTF?
Aren't they all supposedly doing the same thing?
But as this is the same 24hr nick which suffered major damage to the front entrance when a yob drove his ute through the doors and set it alight and no one noticed until someone rang them, I shouldn't be surprised really.
Good luck with getting someone to take notice and get your Mum off the possible charge of conspiracy etc.
AlanH.

The WA Cops are a complete waste of time when it comes to reporting crime.

A while back when I had the LED light stolen from the roof of my Disco while it was parked in the "secure" parking beneath the apartment I stay in while in Perth (almost next door to the Hyatt) - I walked down the street to Police HQ to report the theft etc.

Was told - you can't report that here, you'll have to attend a Police Station. :o

So WTF do they think Police HQ is if not a Police Station. :censored:

Bunch of overpaid bureaucrats sitting on their fat lazy arses costing us more money and achieving bugger all. ;)

[solmanic]

I've already done all this. That's why i've started a thread here complaining about the difficulty of exposing fraudsters. I've literally spent hours filling out various forms, hours again on the phone as i'm shuffled between departments/agencies that directly handle these affairs. I've had face-to-face dealings with Centrelink, local police, the ATO and my local MP with photocopies and photographs of the complete list of alias names arriving at the house, and the full details (DOB, driver license no, address, former addresses, names of kids, name of ex-husband, birth name, maiden name, new name... etc) and the known frauds of the person in question. But despite my best efforts - my wide ranging efforts - no one seems to give a shyte.

Are you sure one or more of the agencies you have contacted isn't actively investigating her now? If they are I doubt whether you or anyone else will be made aware of it until such time as they move against her. They will want to keep any surveillance of the culprit low key until they have all their ducks lined up - and that probably includes letting the whistleblower (you) know what they're doing.

[Don 130]

Try to contact Kate McClymont of the Sydney Morning Herald. She has investigated some very tricky stories.
I reckon there are two stories there. One is the fraud. The other is the response, or lack of it, from the relevant authorities. Someone experienced should take the matter out of your hands. I don't think you should meddle in it yourself.
Don.

[Tank]

Try Sue Spencer at the ABC, last I heard she was a producer at Four Corners.
You have involved yourself and your mother by contacting some authorities , you may leave yourself liable if you don't follow through.
I have had the same thing happen with Cops who are only too willing to pull you over to earn the Govt. some revenue. But when you report a crime, car burnt to the ground, near new tyres on another car slashed, death threats from known criminal standover man, recorded, pictures of this arsehole on Facebook holding illegal weapons and the police say they actually have to catch him in the Act or there's nothing they can do, call us when he's kicking in the door (AFP).
You need to show these guardians of our safety that you Have a perfect (clarity) Video, shot by the Pope and witnessed by at least 3 Nuns, before they get off their shiny arses. The cops want your case handed to them on a platter, in the case of the burnt car they never even questioned the neighbour that called or anyone else in the street, 2 days later they said if the burnt car was not removed the would send the Council ranger around.
We succeeded after 2 months to get some action by going to the TOP cop, these clowns at the counter only want you out the door ASAP so they can get back to their coffee or out in their Hot Rod so as they can pull over someone breaking the speed limit by 2klm/h over the limit.
If you get no satisfaction at the counter, demand (they work for you, remember) to see their Superior, if he/she cant/won't help, ask to speak to his/her superior, until you get proper action, each State has an Ombudsman that will take action against Police that are avoiding their Duty of Care, stick with it, Regards Frank.

[bob10]

Instead of returning the mail marked NATA, go to the delivery centre, talk to the manager, tell them you do not want that mail delivered. They will hold the mail for a few weeks, then send it on to the dead letter office. [ or should] That way, nothing on the letters implicates you. Been done before, Bob