Chinese model rescued from scam centre in Myanmar – 17 January 2025
Chinese authorities have reportedly rescued a Chinese model who was caught up in a human-trafficking ring in Myanmar’s lawless borderlands.
Chinese and Thai police had jointly arrested 12 suspects allegedly involved in the scam operations where the victims were being held.The model and several other victims have been returned to China.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-17/chinese-model-rescued-from-scam-centre-in-myanmar/104831514
NSW Introduces Australia’s First Coercive Control Laws – 18 January 2025
New South Wales has taken a landmark step in addressing domestic abuse. On July 1, 2024, the state became the first in Australia to criminalise coercive control. The Crimes Legislation Amendment (Coercive Control) Act 2022, passed in November 2022, introduces a standalone offense targeting patterns of abuse in intimate relationships.
Queensland man jailed for falsely claiming COVID, flood relief payments – 22 January 2025
A north Queensland man will spend four months behind bars, after receiving more than $40,000 in COVID-19 and disaster payments. The Mackay man claimed $3,000 for himself and used his bank account to host the fraudulent claims of 25 others. The man will serve jail time and pay $10,000 in reparations to the Commonwealth over the next four years.
‘Tens of millions’: BHP sackings tip of corruption iceberg – 22 January 2025
The 26 contractors sacked by BHP so far amid a corruption probe all came from one mine. More are in the firing line.
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Optus says tough new scam rules are ‘unworkable’ – 22 January 2025
Australia’s biggest telco companies are fighting new scam legislation, claiming they should only be required to comply with industry codes – which cannot be enforced by law. These new rules aim to stop Australians being plagued by scams on their phones and social media.
Payroll Manager Admits to Two Employee Fraud Counts – 23 January 2025
Former payroll manager and gambling addict, Brendan Wayne Dodd pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by an employee of at least $100,000. Brisbane’s District Court heard Dodd was working at Vita Group Ltd in Albion, when he made 99 transfers totalling $411,000 over two years and five months to himself, modifying records to disguise the payments. A psychologist’s report indicated Dodd exhibited obsessive compulsive disorder symptoms which were masked by gambling.
https://www.miragenews.com/payroll-manager-admits-to-two-employee-fraud-1395748/
WA agricultural lobby group halts operations to investigate financial misconduct – 24 January 2025
The future of an agricultural lobby group in WA is in question following a financial misconduct investigation. The president of the Pastoralists and Graziers Association says financial misconduct has been uncovered, but the organisation will survive.
The organisation will cease collecting membership fees and staff are to be stood down in the short-term.
‘Enough is enough’: Banks ramp up attack on tech giants over scams – 27 January 2025
Australian banks have called out Facebook’s parent company, Meta, for enabling scammers to use its social media platforms to lure victims and facilitate money laundering, in an escalation of their attack on tech giants for “avoiding responsibility” in tackling scams. They have accused Meta of failing to remove pages and posts even after they had been flagged as fraudulent.
Perth financial advisor Anthony Paul Torre admits stealing $1 million from clients’ superannuation funds – 28 January 2025
Anthony Paul Torre has admitted to stealing $1.03 million from three couples, one individual and one company. The offences happened between March 2010 and January 2015. The 56-year-old is “highly likely” to receive an immediate prison sentence when he is sentenced.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-28/anthony-paul-torre-admits-stealing-clients-money/104868710
Trump administration fires more than a dozen prosecutors – 28 January 2025
The US Justice Department says it has fired more than a dozen employees who worked on criminal investigations into Donald Trump. Special counsel Jack Smith resigned from the department this month after submitting a two-volume report on the twin investigations into Mr Trump’s efforts to undo the 2020 presidential election and his hoarding of classified documents. It was also not immediately known how many of the fired prosecutors intended to challenge the terminations.
Nant distilling founder Keith Batt in court on 736 charges over alleged investor fraud – 29 January 2025
The founder of Nant Distilling, Keith Batt, has appeared in court facing charges for allegedly defrauding investors in a whisky investment scheme.
Court documents list 56 alleged victims of stealing and dishonestly acquiring a financial advantage, covering an alleged $586,680. Batt has not entered a plea and will next appear in court in May.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-29/tas-nant-whisky-court-case/104871256
Why Australia needs better whistleblower protections – Full Story podcast – 28 January 2025
Blowing the whistle on corruption, wrongdoing and unethical behaviour can come at a huge personal cost to those who choose to speak out. Kieran Pender, associate legal director at the Human Rights Law Centre, tells Nour Haydar why more needs to be done to ensure workers who speak up about wrongdoing are protected
Bendigo Bank blames Danny McIver after he lost $70k to scammers – 28 January 2025
In September last year, Mr McIver was on his computer and a message flashed up from Microsoft warning he had been hacked. It urged him to call a number provided and he was told to download software which then gave hackers access to his computer. He then lost 70,0000. He is pursuing a complaint with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority with assistance from IT expert. The biggest issue being why Bendigo back didn’t stop the large transfers of money.
Should social media companies compensate scam victims? – 28 January 2025
Social media companies could be responsible for compensating scam victims under draft laws introduced by the federal government.
ASIC sets key regulatory focus areas for Australia’s financial system – 28 January 2025
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has released its regulatory focus areas for 2025, highlighting critical issues that impact financial markets, consumer protection, and economic stability. These priorities reflect ASIC’s ongoing surveillance of the financial system and its mandate to maintain trust, integrity, and resilience across sectors.
Australia’s regulatory crackdown targets bribery, money laundering and cybercrime – 28 January 2025
This article discuss investigations trends and developments, law reforms impacting corporate criminal liability, sectors targeted by law reforms or criminal enforcement and predictions for 2025 and many other key regulatory areas.
NSW Police sergeant accused of filming and distributing vision of colleague’s genitals given warning – 28 January 2025
A complaint to the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) alleged a NSW Police sergeant on a long drive with two junior officers allegedly refused to stop the car to allow one of the officers to use the bathroom. The officer was allegedly forced to urinate into a bottle, while the Sergeant filmed his genitals before sending the vision to a WhatsApp group.
The matter was investigated by NSW Police after a complaint by a whistleblower to the LECC, with police finding the behaviour was “unprofessional” but not “criminal”.
‘Shut me up’: Bank’s gross move after scam leaves Sydney man ‘disgusted’ – 29 January 2025
Dean Cropp wants to see laws introduced into Australia to ensure that scam victims are compensated just like in the UK. Article explains how he was scammed $40000 and that banks only gave him $1000.
Qld man accused of impersonating dead people in alleged $460k loan fraud – 29 January 2025
A Queensland man is facing 140 charges over an alleged fraud scheme in which he is accused of impersonating multiple people, living and dead at Gympie and the Gold Coast.
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ASIC super boss Simone Constant warns $3tr nest-egg becoming soft target as banks, telcos lift scam game – 30 January 2025
Australia’s financial watchdog fears superannuation funds will become the soft target for scammers if they fail to improve their fraud-fighting and anti-scam systems. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has called on super trustees overseeing $3 trillion of retirement savings to start finding ways to improve their technology and governance as millions of people headed towards retirement.