The following are articles relevant to the Professional Investigator. Click on the title to make a comment or join the conversation.
Investigation & Fraud News – Week ending 5 September 2025
Demand for urgent inquiry into $1.2b super scandal – 29 August 2025
Financial advisers and the opposition are demanding the government expedite probes into the collapse of investment schemes collectively worth $1.2 billion that has left superannuation savers suffering heavy losses. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission is investigating the failed Shield Master Fund, First Guardian Master Fund and Australian Fiduciaries. About 11,000 investors are exposed.
Beauty giant Mecca faces ASIC investigation over secretive accounting – 29 August 2025
Mecca Brands, the cosmetics giant owned by billionaire founder Jo Horgan and her husband Peter Wetenhall, is being investigated by the corporate regulator over the secretive way that it has provided its accounts, including the years-long existence of a little-known corporate entity. The Australian Financial Review revealed this week that Mecca had paid out a $110 million dividend after revenues surged to more than $1.4 billion in the 12 months to December 31. Other accounts lodged by the company did not give a true picture of Mecca’s overall performance or dividends.
‘Pitiful’ Melbourne lawyer Dean Hadjina caught stealing from grieving widow – 30 August 2025
A Melbourne lawyer has been caught stealing close to $500,000 from a grieving widow, after concocting an elaborate cover story to deceive the woman. Victoria’s Supreme Court heard Dean Hadjina’s scheme included grandiose promises, fake court cases and fabricated legal documents. A judge says Hadjina will be taken into custody at his next court hearing in September.
Federal Court hears details of Optus’s ‘unconscionable’ conduct – 2 September 2025
Australia’s competition watchdog has detailed its submissions about unconscionable conduct by telecommunications giant Optus. The Federal Court heard one example of how telco staff “input false information on credit checks” when selling its services to a woman living with an intellectual disability. The hearing, to determine whether to approve a $100m penalty against the telco, has been adjourned.
After NT Supreme Court guilty verdict, here’s what could happen next in Matt Wright’s criminal case – 2 September 2025
Matt Wright’s criminal trial in the Northern Territory Supreme Court left few stones unturned in exposing the events that followed a fatal 2022 helicopter crash to the harsh light of public scrutiny. The celebrity crocodile wrangler was found guilty on two counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice by trying to impede investigations into the crash that killed his close friend and Netflix co-star Chris “Willow” Wilson. But while the verdict provided some measure of closure for Mr Wilson’s family and pilot Sebastian Robinson, who suffered catastrophic injuries in the crash, some unanswered questions remain.
Whistleblower protection authority shot down by Senate committee – 2 September 2025
A Senate committee has recommended against establishing an independent whistleblower protection authority, citing concerns about regulatory duplications and other issues.
Financial adviser banned for six years – 2 September 2025
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has banned financial adviser Milutin Petrovic for six years following serious breaches of client obligations at the now-liquidated United Global Capital. ASIC found Petrovic failed key advice requirements when recommending clients invest retirement savings into products linked to his employer. The regulator determined he provided defective advice that prioritised his licensee’s interests over those of his clients.
https://www.brokernews.com.au/news/breaking-news/financial-adviser-banned-for-six-years-287916.aspx
Two charged by Victorian corruption watchdog after Operation Sandon investigation into Casey council – 3 September 2025
Two people have been charged by Victoria’s anti-corruption watchdog after a seven-year investigation into planning and property development decisions by the City of Casey in Melbourne’s south-east. IBAC’s final report from Operation Sandon, tabled in Victorian Parliament in 2023, found developer John Woodman paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in exchange for councillor support for projects in the outer growth area. IBAC has today announced that a former Casey councillor had been charged with five offences, including receiving secret commissions, misconduct in public office and misuse of position.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-03/operation-sandon-casey-council-ibac-charges/105730716
Australia regulator fines SocGen unit $2.5 million over suspicious futures orders – 3 September 2025
An Australian regulator said on Tuesday that a review panel has fined a local unit of French lender Societe Generale (SOGN.PA), opens new tab A$3.88 million ($2.52 million) for failing to prevent suspicious orders in the electricity and wheat futures markets. An investigation by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) found that Societe Generale Securities Australia, one of the largest participants on the ASX 24 derivatives market, allowed two of its clients to place 33 suspicious orders between May 2023 and February 2024.
David Pocock, Larissa Waters, Fatima Payman lead calls for urgent driving instructor reform after allegations of sexual assault – 3 September 2025
Political pressure is being placed on the federal government to help protect learner drivers from sexual assault. An ABC investigation heard from more than 300 people alleging their instructors sexually harassed or assaulted them, many when they were still minors. Transport ministers will meet before the end of the year.
Investigation launched after childcare centre gives wrong child to grandparent – 3 September 2025
A toddler was missing for several hours after a grandparent picked up the wrong child from a Sydney childcare centre.
The childcare centre apologised to the parents, saying an investigation has been launched. An educator has been stood down over the incident.
Pharmacist’s stolen image used in ‘dangerous’ deepfake adverts for weight loss drug – 4 September 2025
An angry pharmacist says unidentified fraudsters have used her image without consent to promote weight loss drugs online. Mary Baker’s photo was manipulated alongside a fabricated weight loss “success” story shared on social media. An internet studies expert says scams like this are becoming common, but legal action is costly and can take a lot of effort.
Investigation & Fraud News – Week ending 29 August 2025
Academics raise alarm over suspected AI use in Deloitte report – 22 August 2025
A major report for government by Deloitte is littered with citation errors prompting concern it may have been generated by artificial intelligence, but the consultancy claims it merely got the titles and, in some cases, dates and publishers incorrect. Chris Rudge, a welfare academic at Sydney University, discovered the errors in a report by Deloitte for the Department of Workplace Relations (DEWR) on the IT system used to automate penalties in the welfare system such as pauses on the dole.
Kmart faces legal action in Australia over potential forced labour links – 22 August 2025
Earlier this month an Australian-based Uyghur group launched legal action against Kmart in the federal court. The case has put the retailer’s supply chain under scrutiny for potential links to forced labour in China’s Xinjiang province.
Nour Haydar speaks with senior reporter Ben Doherty about the legal action against Kmart and the warnings that Australia could become a dumping ground for products linked to forced labour.
Tasmanian racing stewards stood down pending investigation over bets, ABC understands – 25 August 2025
The ABC understands two stewards, including the acting chief thoroughbred racing steward, have been stood down while an investigation is conducted into alleged betting. The nature of the alleged betting, including which specific races and amounts alleged to be wagered, remains unclear. In a statement, the racing minister says the government has “delivered the biggest reforms in decades to strengthen our racing industry, just like we said we would”.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-25/tasmanian-racing-stewards-alleged-betting/105694118
How NSW Health uses children in illicit tobacco shop stings – 26 August 2025
Teenagers are going undercover in tobacco shop stings and a private contractor is charging the public tens of thousands of dollars, to destroy Vapes in NSW’s desperate attempts to combat black market tobacco.
Access to digital version of SMH required to read article.
Man at centre of NDIS property scheme accused of lavish spending despite having assets frozen by Federal Court – 26 August 2025
The Gold Coast businessman accused of gambling tens of millions of dollars earmarked to build homes for the country’s most disabled has allegedly continued to spend lavishly despite the Federal Court freezing his assets. Mr McWilliams’s case is part of a broader investigation by Four Corners that has found a profound lack of regulation in the disability housing sector, with property sharks using the NDIS name to line their pockets while investors see their life savings evaporate
Google issues emergency warning for all Gmail users – 28 August 2025
Google has sounded the alarm with an emergency warning to all Gmail users, urging extra caution amid a growing cyber threat linked to a major third-party breach. While the company stresses that its own systems remain secure, the incident has opened the door for hackers to exploit stolen data in new and deceptive ways.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/google-issues-emergency-warning-gmail-121037539.html
Whistleblower Richard Boyle avoids conviction and jail after revealing tax office’s unethical behaviour – 28 August 2025
Whistleblower Richard Boyle has been spared jail after exposing unethical debt collection practices at the Australian Taxation Office. Judge Liesl Kudelka sentenced Boyle, 49, in the South Australian district court, seven years after the former debt collection officer went public with allegations that led to reforms within the ATO. In a plea deal with prosecutors, the Adelaide man admitted four criminal charges, reduced from the original 66 laid after he appeared on the ABC’s Four Corners program. Family and supporters sobbed in court when Boyle received no conviction on all four counts, no penalty and a $500 12-month good behaviour bond.
‘Large scale’ cattle duffing in the NT under investigation – 28 August 2025
Police are investigating the alleged theft of hundreds of cattle from an NT cattle station. NT Cattlemen’s Association says it’s not an isolated incident and is calling for a dedicated NT stock squad. One NT cattle producer has pleaded guilty to stock theft in the Top End and will be sentenced next month.
Slater and Gordon chair breaks silence on email crisis – 29 August 2025
Slater and Gordon chairman James MacKenzie was at home when he received a call from a group of senior executives about a damaging email that had been sent to hundreds of staff and would quickly plunge the storied class action law firm into crisis. As soon as he jumped off the call he corralled a crisis team – FMRS Advisory’s Lissie Ratcliff, Minter Ellison’s John Steven and KordaMentha’s Mark Korda – to manage the fallout which consumed the firm and captivated the Australian legal community for days.
https://www.afr.com/politics/slater-and-gordon-chair-breaks-silence-on-email-crisis-20250827-p5mq8c
Slater and Gordon announce class action against Suncorp – 29 August 2025
The Suncorp Group is facing a potential class action over claims it charged loyal customers higher insurance premiums because of their long-term commitment. Slater and Gordon is leading the investigation, which examines whether AAMI, GIO, Apia and Suncorp insurance customers were unfairly punished with inflated premiums for simply sticking with the same provider over time. The law firm has labelled the alleged practice a “loyalty tax,” arguing that it was quietly embedded into policies without customers’ knowledge. “The investigation focuses on allegations that these increased charges were included in premiums without proper disclosure, effectively punishing loyalty to these brands,” said Slater and Gordon.
https://7news.com.au/news/slater-and-gorden-announce-class-action-against-suncorp-c-19835142
Matt Wright found guilty on two counts of hindering chopper crash investigation – 29 August 2025
A jury has found Matt Wright guilty on two counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice, in relation to the aftermath of a fatal 2022 helicopter crash. The Northern Territory Supreme Court jury could not reach a verdict on a third count of the same charge. Wright, who has been bailed until sentencing, told reporters outside court he intends to appeal the verdict.
The months-long investigation that unpicked Iran’s foreign interference plot – 29 August 2025
The Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation last week unpicked the thread confirming a link between the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and an antisemitic attack in Sydney and Melbourne. That evidence, which can’t be revealed for security reasons, enabled intelligence services to substantiate suspected Iranian interference with “high confidence”.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-29/how-irans-antisemitic-attack-plot-came-undone/105709542
Investigation & Fraud News – Week ending 22 August 2025
Senior lawyer apologises after filing AI-generated submissions in Victorian murder case – 15 August 2025
A senior lawyer has apologised to a Victorian judge for filing submissions in a murder case that included AI-generated errors. The fake submissions included fabricated quotes from a speech to the state legislature and non-existent case citations purportedly from the Supreme Court.
The AI-generated errors caused a 24-hour delay in resolving a case.
Fraud claim rocks Smorgon gold mine deal – 18 August 2025
Companies controlled by the powerful Victor Smorgon Group have been accused of running a dishonest and fraudulent scheme to invalidly acquire a stake in an Australian gold mine at a below-market price. The allegations, which have been strongly denied, were filed in the Federal Court by the Smorgon group’s Chinese partners in the Stawell Gold Mine, and reveal a bitter battle for control of the Victorian project at a time of record high gold prices.
https://www.afr.com/companies/mining/fraud-claim-rocks-smorgon-gold-mine-deal-20250814-p5mn1k
Billions lost on US penny stocks as ‘pump-and-dump’ scams multiply – 18 August 2025
Pump-and-dump frauds targeting U.S. listed Chinese microcaps have recently led to staggering investor losses—around $3.7B in just one month. These schemes are amplified by social media manipulation and fake endorsements. Regulatory bodies have been slow to act despite clear signals, while investors—sometimes at great personal loss—are exploited.
Candidate fraud: From hiring hurdle to business threat – 18 August 2025
Recruiting leaders are increasingly concerned about candidates using GenAI tools to deceive employers when they don’t have the right skills or qualifications. Improvements in GenAI-created text, image and audio (deepfakes) are enabling this activity. Gartner predicts 25 per cent of candidate profiles globally will be fake by 2028.
https://www.hrleader.com.au/people/27173-candidate-fraud-from-hiring-hurdle-to-business-threat
Whistleblowers Remain Unprotected as Government Fails to Implement Promised Reforms – 19 August 2025
Key points from this paper are:
-Whistleblower protections remain inadequate across sectors, including universities;
-Reform efforts under the Public Interest Disclosure (PID) Act have stalled; and
-Independent advocacy is pushing for a formal oversight body.
Internet provider iiNet hit in cyberattack, 280k customers’ data exposed – 12 August 2025
Australia – 22 August 2025s third-largest internet provider has been hit in a massive data breach, exposing details belonging to 280,000 customers. Internet and telecommunications company iiNet released a statement confirming an unknown third party had gained access to its order management system. “Early investigations suggest the unauthorised access was gained using stolen account credentials from one employee,” the statement read.
West Aussies have lost $30 million to celebrity and cryptocurrency scams since 2024 – 19 August 2025
West Australians are increasingly being duped by celebrity and crypto cons, resulting in millions of dollars being stolen. New research by WA ScamNet revealed that almost 50 WA residents have fallen victim to investment scams in 2025, resulting in $10.8 million being stolen. In 2024 alone, 76 WA victims reported handing over nearly $19.4 million to scammers and their schemes. One victim was reported to have lost an astonishing $10 million after being lured in by a “deepfake” online celebrity endorsement video.
A practical guide to whistleblowing in Australia – 20 August 2025
Australia’s whistleblower regime under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (Corporations Act), provides protections for people who speak up about corporate misconduct or wrongdoing. The Whistleblower Laws aren’t just about supporting those who raise a complaint, they also set out clear obligations for organisations to comply with. This paper outlines Australias whistleblower regime and tells why it’s essential for businesses to understand what’s required when someone ‘blows the whistle.’
https://hamiltonlocke.com.au/a-practical-guide-to-whistleblowing-in-australia/
Report has revealed widespread concerns among Queensland public servants, with many too afraid to report corruption over fears of retaliation – 20 August 2025
Nearly six thousand government workers took part in the review, which highlighted alarming levels of distrust, whistleblower fears and concerns over recruitment practices. The review, conducted by the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC), surveyed almost 6000 staff across the state. More than half of respondents – 55 per cent – said they had either witnessed or possibly witnessed corrupt behaviour in that time. The findings show nine in ten workers suspect some form of corruption is happening around them. Seven in ten said they would recognise corrupt behaviour if they saw it, and three in four said they would report it. Yet more than half – 52 per cent – believed they would face negative consequences if they spoke up.
‘It’s out of control’: Organised crime gangs strike Rebel stores – 21 August 2025
Organised thieves targeting Rebel Sport stores in Victoria are having such a financial impact on its parent, ASX-listed Super Retail Group, that management flagged it with analysts and investors at the group’s full-year results on Thursday. Super Retail chief executive Anthony Heraghty, who is embroiled in a Federal Court battle brought by two former employees, said highly organised criminals were entering the company’s sporting goods stores to steal thousands of dollars worth of high-value items that could be easily resold through online marketplaces.
Postal worker charged over alleged $1.4m fraud from stolen bank cards in Sydney – 22 August 2025s east – 22 August 2025
A 56-year-old postal worker is accused of stealing bank cards and other items from mail in Sydney – 22 August 2025s east. Police allege he supplied the stolen cards to two separate criminal syndicates, resulting in $1.4 million worth of fraud. Two other men were charged in connection and all three men are due before court next month.
Doctor accused of secretly filming colleagues has – 22 August 2025complex – 22 August 2025 mental health issues, court hears – 22 August 2025
Ryan Cho, who is accused of secretly filming hundreds of women in hospital toilets and bathrooms, has been granted bail. Dr Cho – 22 August 2025s bail conditions include living with his parents and a ban from attending hospitals unless in an emergency.
Dr Cho – 22 August 2025s lawyer said he expected hundreds more charges would be laid by the end of the year.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-22/trainee-surgeon-ryan-cho-granted-bail/105686442
Mackay Sugar fined $100,000 after accident severs worker – 22 August 2025s fingers – 22 August 2025
Mackay Sugar has been fined $100,000 after an employee partially severed three fingers in 2021. The court heard a pump was “poorly maintained” with no belt guards, which contributed to the breach of workplace health and safety laws. Mackay Sugar says it has implemented safety upgrades in the years since the incident.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-22/sugar-prosecution-three-fingers-severed/105684872
Victorian school teacher charged with soliciting child abuse material – 22 August 2025
Victorian teacher, Harley James Caldwell, has been charged with child abuse material offences. His employer, Irymple Secondary College, says there is no information to suggest a student or former students are involved. The teacher will face court in October.
Investigation & Fraud News – Week ending 15 August 2025
ATMs linked to illicit tobacco trade and fraudster in Australia – 10 August 2025
NCR Atleos has placed Cashzone ATMs in stores linked to Australia’s illegal tobacco trade, despite the company’s claims of high ethical standards and compliance with laws. The ATMs are fueling the sale of contraband cigarettes, and the tie is the latest found in an ABC investigation examining how private ATM suppliers are supporting the illicit tobacco trade.
Quarter of poker machines in NSW clubs could be susceptible to money laundering, agency says – 11 August 2025
A quarter of poker machines in NSW clubs could be at risk of money laundering and terrorism financing, the nation’s financial crimes intelligence agency says.
The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre says a program monitoring the machines run by BetSafe “systemically failed” to meet its legal obligations.
It comes as the agency turns its attention to clubs after successfully prosecuting several casinos across the country.
Truck driver ordered to pay more than $80,000 after compensation fraud – 11 August 2025
A Melbourne truck driver, 41, must pay more than $80,000 after pleading guilty to a single charge of fraudulently obtaining payments from employers. The court heard he continued driving for multiple companies while receiving weekly compensation (for anxiety, depression etc) until May 2023, when surveillance determined he was self-employed and the payments were terminated on grounds of fraud.
AI chatbots accused of encouraging teen suicide as experts sound alarm – 12 August 2025
An investigation by triple j hack has uncovered allegations of young people in Australia being sexually harassed and even encouraged to take their own life by AI chatbots. AI experts are calling on the government to introduce legislation to better regulate AI chatbots to protect young and vulnerable people.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-12/how-young-australians-being-impacted-by-ai/105630108
KPMG, Deloitte, PwC exit 35 professionals over misconduct – 12 August 2025
Three of the big four consulting firms – KPMG, Deloitte and PwC – have exited 35 staff for misconduct, including sexual harassment and data breaches. The firms began disclosing misconduct complaints, with different reporting methods and varied transparency, after a series of reports in The Australian Financial Review detailed how they handled sexual harassment and other issues.
Access to digital version of AFR required to read full article
NAB and AFSH penalised $15.5 million for failing customers facing financial hardship – 13 August 2025
The Federal Court has ordered National Australia Bank (NAB) and its subsidiary, AFSH Nominees Pty Ltd (AFSH), to pay a pecuniary penalty of $15.5 million for failing to respond to customers facing hardship. The Court found that between 2018 and 2023, NAB and AFSH failed to respond to 345 hardship applications within the 21-day timeframe required by law. As a result, those consumers remained unaware of the outcome of their hardship applications.
Another PwC former partner deregistered for integrity breaches – 13 August 2025
A former PricewaterhouseCoopers partner has been deregistered as a tax agent for dodgy practices and false declarations while he was with the firm. The Tax Practitioners Board has terminated the registration of Richard Gregg and imposed a four-year ban prohibiting him from re-applying for a tax agent licence due to having breached multiple obligations under the Tax Agent Services Act 2009 and the Code of Professional Conduct. The ATO determined the clients affected by Mr Gregg’s conduct had a cumulative tax shortfall of more than $11 million.
https://region.com.au/another-pwc-former-partner-deregistered-for-integrity-breaches/894156/
Victorian childcare worker retained Working with Children Check despite being blacklisted – 13 August 2025
A string of regulatory failings saw a Victorian childcare worker retain his Working with Children Check — despite being blacklisted from the industry after an investigation found he was grooming toddlers. The saga raises questions about whether the bodies that oversee the troubled sector missed opportunities to intervene earlier. Hours after the ABC published its investigation into the case on Wednesday, the state government said it was moving to cancel the man’s Working with Children Check.
Superfund charged dead members: ASIC – 14 August 2025
Mercer Super is being sued for “serious member service issues”, including failing to refund dead people’s insurance premiums, the consumer watchdog alleges. The reviews investigated how funds had not being refunded correctly after a member had died, how members’ accounts were not being created with default insurance and how updates to members’ information were not being processed by the trustee.
https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/super-fund-charged-dead-members-014638452.html
Increased harm: The crimes nearly half of Australians have fallen victim to – 14 August 2025
A report from the Australian Institute of Criminology found identity theft accounted for more than one in five victims (22 per cent), while fraudsters and scammers duped almost one in 10 (9.5 per cent). Some of the respondents either paid money or provided sensitive information to a scammer offering them either the false promise of an inheritance, share in a large sum of money or a holiday package in exchange for their help. The Cybercrime in Australia 2024 report also showed 27 per cent were targeted with online abuse or harassment, which is classified as a cybercrime.
Former Genius Childcare boss Darren Misquitta pleads guilty to dealing with suspected proceeds of crime – 14 August 2025
Darren Misquitta, former boss of Genius Childcare, has pleaded guilty to dealing with property reasonably suspected of being the proceeds of crime. A court heard he received $120,000 in suspected proceeds of crime from a business associate. It comes amid investigations into the childcare centre, which owes creditors more than $80 million.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-14/genius-childcare-darren-misquitta-guilty-plea/105653390
UK police say 146 victims have come forward during Mohamed Al Fayed sexual offences probe – 14 August 2025
British police say 146 people are now being treated as victims of late Harrods boss and Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Al Fayed. That is a substantial increase on figures provided in previous updates by the Metropolitan Police. Authorities say they are investigating whether any misconduct or corruption was involved in facilitating or enabling Al Fayed’s abuse.
19 arrested for allegedly stealing $10 million worth of baby formula and other items – 15 August 2025
Police say they’ve dismantled an alleged major retail theft syndicate that allegedly stole more than $10 million worth of products from Melbourne supermarkets in a five-month period. The items stolen include baby formula, medicine, vitamins and electric toothbrushes. The investigation is ongoing and further arrests are anticipated.
