11 stories this week:
Police looking for former bank teller accused of stealing $121,000 – 13 June 2023
Police are looking for Shepparton man Kuol Mawien Kuol. The 25-year-old is wanted on warrant for failure to appear in court in relation to fraud and drug matters. The fraud matters relate to allegations he stole $121,000 from bank accounts while he worked as a bank teller in Shepparton and Kyabram. https://www.sheppnews.com.au/news/police-looking-for-former-bank-teller-accused-of-stealing-121000/
Former Coles executive admits $1.9 million fraud – 14 June 2023
Aaron Baslangic, a former Coles executive has admitted stealing $1.9 million from the national supermarket giant. As a finance executive at Coles Online, Baslangic could authorise payments up to $75,000 and in early 2019 orchestrated 14 illegal payments. He pleaded guilty to two charges of obtaining property by deception, financial advantage by deception and making a false document.
https://www.sheppnews.com.au/national/former-coles-executive-admits-1-9-million-fraud/
Police commences investigation into allegations of fraud – 14 June 2023
Commissioner of Police David Manning said the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary is currently investigating and prosecuting a number of transnational economic crimes allegations involving Papua New Guineans and foreigners. Police have also commenced criminal investigation last month into the allegations of fraud and official corruption jointly reported on various local and international media platforms by ABC News and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project.
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/police-commences-investigation-into-allegations-of-fraud/
Australia’s Central Bank Owes Underpaid Workers Over $770,000 – 14 June 2023
Australia’s central bank will pay out just over A$1 million in back pay after an internal review found the bank had systematically underpaid more than a thousand current and former employees. Most of the money owed came from leave entitlements that should have been paid out when staff left the bank.
Update for developer’s daughter accused of $150m bank scam – 14 June 2023
Ashlyn Nassif has been charged with dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception and publishing false or misleading material, after she allegedly submitted fake contracts to obtain a $150m bank loan. Ashlyn is accused of falsifying documents to meet a $10.5m pre-sale condition for the Sky View apartments in Castle Hill in Sydney’s northwest.
https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/update-for-developers-daughter-accused-of-150m-bank-scam-c-10977761
Worker allegedly defrauded wedding venue employer of $15K – 15 June 2023
A Tasmanian man has pleaded not guilty to defrauding his wedding venue employer of more than $15,000 over a period of more than two years. He is pleading not guilty to 94 charges of computer-related fraud and dishonestly.
Access to Digital version of herald sun required to read article.
European Union one step closer to passing world’s first artificial intelligence rules – 15 June 2023
The EU Commission’s proposed AI Act will regulate the use of artificial intelligence. The EU Commission’s proposed landmark laws, are designed to set a global standard for protecting people from the technology, following warnings from experts that AI presents an “extinction” risk similar to that of pandemics and nuclear war. The rules include a ban on AI for real-time biometric surveillance, emotion recognition, and also predictive policing.
‘Blow your brains out’: Scammer’s chilling threat after stealing $130k – 15 June 2023
Paul Trefry, a businessman has shared the chilling moment a scammer taunted and threatened him over the phone after stealing $130,000. Once Paul realised what was happening, he decided to record the call and unbelievably, the two men involved confessed to stealing his $130,000 and told him how they planned spending his money. The scammers also claimed to have purchased Paul’s personal details for just $20 and then rang back and told Paul they would ‘smash his head in’ and shoot him as well.
NAB issues urgent warning over phishing scam targeting customers with fake website – 15 June 2023
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) says Australians have lost a record $3.1b in 2022, with total losses increasing by 80% from 2021. NAB has issued a warning to customers over criminals tricking users into losing control of their phones, computers and tablets. The scam page then lures customers into downloading a ‘”Business Portal” through a link, or a live chat option, which gives criminals remote software access and allows them to take control of the devices.
Whistleblowing amendments an important first-step – 15 June 2023
Initial amendments to Australia’s federal public sector whistleblowing law, the Public Interest Disclosure Act, are a welcome step towards much-needed comprehensive reform. Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus KC has committed to a second, wider phase of PID Act reform later this year. The government has also agreed to consult on the establishment of a whistleblower protection authority, with a discussion paper expected in the coming months.
https://www.hrlc.org.au/news/2023/6/14/pid-act-first-steps
‘Invisible robbers’ stealing millions in phone porting scam labelled as ‘terrifying’ – 16 June 2023
Business owner Claire Harrison fell victim to mobile porting fraud- where scammers gain control of a person’s identity and bank account by having their mobile number transferred to another device.
