Thread: Reporting fraudsters is near-on impossible

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.

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,

Start returning the mail not known at this address.

See what happens then,

Have you tried calling 131 524
Reporting Fraud
It might be an option.

It makes my blood boil. Good luck.

Originally Posted by 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?

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-w...-tax-evasion-/

https://olt.ato.gov.au/terc/default....15122020051803

Originally Posted by loneranger

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-w...-tax-evasion-/

https://olt.ato.gov.au/terc/default....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.

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.

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

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.