11 stories this week:

 

Judge sentences WA bookkeeper Kathleen Griffiths to more than three years jail over $750k theft – 29 May 2023
Kathleen Margaret Griffith, a 54-year-old bookkeeper has been sentenced to three years and four months jail for stealing nearly $750,000 from two employers over more than a decade. It appeared to be compulsive behaviour that had developed into a habit, and Griffiths was unaware of just how much she had taken.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-29/wa-bookkeeper-kathleen-griffiths-jailed-more-than-3-years/102405460


PwC orders nine partners to go on leave amid tax scandal fallout – 29 May 2023
PwC has directed nine of its partners to take leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation into the leaking of confidential Australian government tax changes for large multinational corporations. The firm also announced that the chairs of its governance board and designated risk committee are stepping down, with two independent non-executive directors to be appointed to the governance board. PwC will also “ring fence” its provision of services to the federal government, with a standalone executive and governance board to oversee those operations from September onwards.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-29/tax-confidences-broken-and-billions-at-stake-how-pwc-has-upended/102398798

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-30/treasury-referred-pwc-to-police-after-emails-exposed-by-senate/102409208


Adelaide’s SkyCity casino is coming under increasing scrutiny – here’s a look at why – 29 May 2023
South Australian authorities have just ramped up monitoring of the state’s only licensed casino, amid allegations of serious and systemic non-compliance with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws. Dini Soulio, South Australia’s Liquor and Gambling Commissioner, has asked the casino to prepare a “program of work” for the commissioner, outlining what it’s doing to meet its regulatory obligations, including anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing, and gambling-related harm minimisation responsibilities.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-29/adelaide-skycity-casino-is-under-further-scrutiny/102404906


Crown Resorts and AUSTRAC agree to $450 million fine over money laundering breaches – 30 May 2023
Crown Resorts and the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) have agreed to a $450 million penalty over historical breaches of Australia’s anti-money laundering laws at its Melbourne and Perth casinos.

Crown’s CEO says the company is committed to rectifying its past “failingsThe $450 million penalty will require the final approval of the Federal Court in July.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-30/crown-fined-450-million-money-laundering-breaches-austrac/102410670


Psychic scams are swindling Australians out of thousands of dollars, but no one is going after the culprits – 30 May 2023
According to ScamWatch, the amount extorted from Australians via psychic scams more than doubled between 2020 and 2022, jumping from $230,273 to $555,240. A psychic scam doesn’t involve a psychic making an inaccurate prediction. The psychic scam follows a specific pattern: and it all starts with a “curse”. They groom the vulnerable person to suspend their critical thinking at a low point in their lives and get them hooked on the scam.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-30/psychic-scams-swindling-australians-thousands-police-culprits/102390492


Elizabeth Holmes enters Texas prison to begin 11-year sentence for notorious Theranos blood-testing hoax – 31 May 2023
Elizabeth Holmes was sentenced to 135 months prison for defrauding investors in her blood testing startup. Holmes admitted making mistakes at Theranos, but denied committing crimes during the trial. She will serve the sentence at a minimum security prison in Texas.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-31/theranos-elizabeth-holmes-begins-prison-sentence/102413766


Estimates reveal 435 Chinese-made surveillance devices found at defence sites – 31 May 2023
Hundreds of Chinese-made surveillance cameras have been found at defence sites across Australia, well above the initial estimate of just one. Under Chinese national security law the Chinese Communist Party could request any of the surveillance material to be handed over. Government Defence is now working through a process of completely removing the devices from all sites by June 30.

https://www.news.com.au/technology/estimates-reveal-435-chinesemade-surveillance-devices-found-at-defence-sites/news-story/bb82132fa7f63a44da35ebcf6dfb9b34


Amazon to pay $38 million settlement over allegations of hoarding children’s data – 1 June 2023
Amazon has agreed to pay a $38 million civil penalty to settle the US Federal Trade Commission’s allegations it violated a child privacy law and deceived parents, by keeping for years children’s voice and location data, recorded by its popular Alexa, voice assistant. Amazon also has to overhaul its data deletion practices and impose stricter, more transparent privacy measures.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-01/ftc-hits-amazon-with-25-million-fine-for-violating-child-privacy/102421920


Mining giant BHP admits underpaying almost 30,000 Australian workers – 1 June 2023
Mining giant BHP has admitted it has underpaid almost 30,000 workers, dating back to 2010, and it will cost more than $400 million to make amends. BHP said a review suggested rostered employees in Australia had their leave incorrectly deducted on public holidays since 2010. It says it’s working to rectify the issue as quickly as possible for 28,500 workers.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-01/bhp-wages-underpaid-28500-workers/102419890


Trust fund scam swindles agent and conveyancers ou t of $100k+ – 1 June 2023
Property professionals are being advised to exercise extra vigilance following a bank impersonation scam that collectively duped three Western Australian real estate and settlement agents out of over $100,000. The victims received a phone call from scammers posing as an authorised person from NAB and were told that a recent payment they had made from their trust account, had been blocked as it appeared suspicious or hadn’t gone through and the account needed to be reset. Article emphasises the importance of never disclosing personal details or access codes over the phone, even if the caller appears legitimate.

https://www.realestatebusiness.com.au/industry/25860-trust-fund-scam-swindles-agent-and-conveyancers-out-of-100k


SA man charged for scamming $700k from elderly victims with non-existent scheme – 2 June 2023
An 80 year old South Australian financial planner has been arrested for deceiving six elderly people out of $700,000 with investment schemes that did not exist.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-02/man-scams-elderly-victims-with-fake-investment-schemes/102425418