Australia’s first independent forensics lab targeting cold cases and mystery human remains – 1 March 2025
Australia’s first independent forensic science laboratory service is established to assist with high demand for DNA testing and body identification.
There are currently about 700 sets of human remains on police files, and countless more in storage due to confusion about their origin or identity. Families of long-term missing people will be able to utilise the service to progress investigations independent of police.
Man allegedly impersonated 13 men, women to change Centrelink bank details – 2 March 2025
A MAN is accused of pretending to be 13 different men and women in Tamworth and changing their Centrelink bank account details in an elaborate fraud.
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Near Identical Domain Used To Scam Over $800,000 With Wire For Real Estate Deal – 2 March 2025
Business email compromise (BEC) scams have become increasingly prevalent, particularly in high-value transactions like real estate. Cybercriminals exploit weak security measures and manipulate email communications to redirect payments to fraudulent accounts. In many cases, victims remain unaware of the fraud until it is too late. A South Australian woman narrowly avoided a complete financial disaster after falling victim to a sophisticated BEC scam that led to the loss of over $800,000.
David McBride’s lengthy prison sentence failed to take into account ‘brave and selfless’ motivations, lawyers argue – 3 March 2025
Lawyers for David McBride have argued their client’s lengthy prison sentence failed to take into account he was motivated by “bravely and selflessly” attempting to right what he saw as a “serious wrong”.
ASIC shuts down 130 investment scam websites per week – 3 March 2025
Online scammers are squarely in ASIC’s cross hairs with new data revealing more than 10,000 investment scam websites and online advertisements have been shut down by the agency. In the last six months of 2024, ASIC increased its new investigations by 31% to 109 new investigations, commenced 15 new court actions, and completed 376 surveillances. The update also reports ASIC was successful in the majority of its civil and criminal prosecutions, securing $46.6 million in civil penalties and 13 criminal convictions.
https://www.adviservoice.com.au/2025/03/asic-shuts-down-130-investment-scam-websites-per-week/
Former IRExchange execs in court after ASIC investigation – 4 March 2025
Three former executives of failed grocery marketplace IRExchange have been charged with giving false or misleading information to the corporate regulator’s probe into three capital raisings. Former IRExchange chief executive Brett Charlton, chief financial officer Brett Coventry, and company secretary Anand Sundaraj appeared at Downing Centre Local Court charged with several breaches of corporate law, following a five-year investigation by ASIC.
ASIC charges Brendan Gunn for dealing with money reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime – 5 March 2025
Brendan Gunn of Camp Hill Queensland, has been charged with one offence against s.400.9.(1) to the Criminal Code alleging that he dealt with money or other property, it being reasonable to suspect that the money or property was proceeds of crime of $100,000 or more. It is alleged that Mr Gunn dealt with two bank cheques, which contained the proceeds of four investment amounts totalling $181,000 made by three victim investors who deposited funds for conversion to cryptocurrency.
How finance teams can catch fraud early and increase audit efficiency – 6 March 2025
Fraud is a major challenge for finance teams, with the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) reporting that businesses lose around five per cent of their annual revenue to fraud. Expense fraud, in particular, remains a significant concern. Article explains how businesses of all sizes can reduce fraud risk with stronger internal controls.
Aussie exposes alarming bank issue – 6 March 2025
An Australian man was disappointed when he lost more than $11,000 in a devious scam, but what he uncovered in relation to being able to easily open up bank accounts with limited information and no cross checking, reveals that banks facilitate crime.
Former businessman cons banks to obtain more than $6m in loans – 6 March 2025
A dodgy father and son have followed each other to jail within a week after investigators uncovered nearly $9m in bank loans they separately obtained using fraudulent documents.
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CFMEU delegates sacked, investigation launched into alleged Metro Tunnel wage scam – 7 March 2025
An investigation is underway into allegations a labour hire firm charged for shifts that were never worked on the Melbourne Metro Tunnel construction.
Two CFMEU delegates have been sacked over the alleged scam, which could have cost millions of dollars. The Victorian government says the cost of the alleged fraud won’t be borne by taxpayers.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-07/vic-metro-tunnel-ghost-shifts/105022448
NT Police Association calls for commissioner Michael Murphy to resign following ICAC findings – 7 March 2025
The Northern Territory Police Association says commissioner Michael Murphy should resign, after he revealed himself as the subject of an investigation by the territory’s corruption watchdog. The NT Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC) found an unnamed public officer acted improperly by helping a long-term friend apply for a high-level job, for which they were on the recruitment panel. The Centre for Public Integrity is calling for changes to the NT ICAC Act that would clearly allow the anti-corruption body to name public servants in investigation reports.
