As David McBride braces himself for a prison sentence, what will it take for the public to care about whistleblowers? – 4 March 2024
McBride pleaded guilty in November to leaking sensitive classified military information to the ABC because he said the law as it stood for whistleblowers left him with no other choice. The documents were used to expose war crimes by special forces in Afghanistan in a series known as the Afghan Files. The sentencing of David McBride will be a clarifying moment for whistleblowing protections in this country and raises the question, as to whether the public, is doing enough to support whistleblowers.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-04/david-mcbride-sentencing-whistleblower-protection/103539646
ASIC takes down 3,500 scam websites in six months – 5 March 2024
The federal government’s new scam website takedown service is removing nearly 20 websites every day since it was launched midway through last year. According to new statistics released by ASIC, this new service took down 3,490 investment scam and phishing websites from 1 July to 31 December last year, the first six months of its operation. ASIC has also launched an investor list to help consumers inform themselves if an entity they are considering investing in may be fraudulent, unlicensed or a scam.
https://ia.acs.org.au/article/2024/asic-takes-down-3-500-scam-websites-in-six-months.html
Terry Irving was imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit. Now the justice system will be asked to answer the ultimate question: What’s the cost of loss of liberty? – 5 March 2024
Terry Irving spent years in jail for a crime he didn’t commit. Terry and his legal team continue to seek justice and compensation, their fight underscores the broader impacts of such cases on public faith in the legal system and the urgent need for reforms to address racial biases and ensure fairness and transparency in judicial proceedings. Terry Irving’s story is a sobering reminder of the cost of freedom and the price paid by those wrongfully deprived of it.
Former Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra acquitted of mishandling government funds – 5 March 2024
Thailand’s former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra has been acquitted of mishandling funds for a government project in 2013. Currently in exile, to return to Thailand without facing prison, Ms Yingluck would also need a pardon from King Maha Vajiralongkorn or another form of clemency.
Combating financial crime with AI – 6 March 2024
While the public sector is moving quickly to address fraud with regulations like the Commonwealth Fraud Control Framework, fighting AI-driven fraud is increasingly resource-intensive for many in the private sector. Investigators are spending more time diving into countless records and behavioural indicators to identify fraud. And just as one fraud trend is countered, criminals employ a different attack method. Article looks at how financial institutions can better fight fraud in the face of high-cost pressures, while adhering to tightening compliance regulations.
Damning report into former Sydney prison guard who sexually assaulted inmates highlights culture, management problems – 6 March 2024
A report into the sexual offences committed by former prison guard Wayne Gregory Astill has been released publicly. It found Astill should have never been hired by Corrective Services NSW after concerns during his time as a police officer. A taskforce will be set up to fix the culture and procedures in Corrective Services.
Former Julalikari CEO Sam Ashton sacked after $1.2m in financial irregularities found, document reveals – 6 March 2024
The former CEO of a large Northern Territory Aboriginal corporation was sacked after an investigation uncovered $1.2 million of financial irregularities. The irregularities impacted several of Julalikari’s businesses, including a fund for Indigenous people who cannot afford a funeral service.
A member of the organisation hopes Julalikari can return to its former glory with “a lot of hard work”.
Spanish prosecutors accuse Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti of $1.7 million tax fraud – 6 March 2024
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has been accused of committing tax fraud worth 1 million euros ($1.7 million) by Spanish state prosecutors. The Italian, who is one of soccer’s most successful coaches, is alleged to have used shell companies to hide parts of his income in 2014 and 2015. Prosecutors say Ancelotti could face up to four years and nine months in prison.
Cryptocurrency fraud is now the riskiest scam for consumers, according to BBB – 6 March 2024
Cryptocurrency is an unregulated investment space that federal regulators and consumer advocates have long said makes it ripe for fraud. The Better Business Bureau has stated that these scams are now the riskiest type of cons in the U.S., with about 80% of Americans targeted in crypto and investment scams last year losing money.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/crypto-scam-risk-bbb-report/
This is food fraud: The growing problem in Australia that ‘can fool anyone’ – 7 March 2024
There are different types of food fraud, including tampering, mislabelling, counterfeit products, and dilution. A 2021 report by AgriFutures found food fraud was costing producers globally around $40 to 50 billion a year, and $2 to 3 billion in Australia alone, without accounting for the vast scale of undetected fraud.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/food-fraud-is-on-the-rise-and-can-fool-anyone/aikgyxlzg
Australian HSBC customers demand action over $6.3m ‘spoofing’ scam – 8 March 2024
Australians continue to lose huge amounts of money to a long-running text message scam targeting customers of HSBC. The ABC has obtained a recording of a scammer speaking to a victim. Whilst consumer advocates are calling for urgent action to shut the scam down and investigate “weak spots” in scam prevention networks.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-08/hsbc-customers-demand-spoof-scam-action/103549516
