The following are articles relevant to the Professional Investigator. Click on the title to make a comment or join the conversation.
Alarming spike in COVID scams as Australian bank accounts targeted – 17 August 2020
Scamwatch has received 24,000 reports of stolen personal information this year – an increase of 55 per cent compared with the same time last year. With more people working and socialising online. The Australian Consumer watchdog, has stated there has been a sharp increase in scammers seeking personal information. Once a scammer has that information, they can access bank accounts or superannuation, take out loans in someone else’s name or impersonate them on social media to try to get money from family and friends.
https://7news.com.au/travel/coronavirus/huge-spike-in-id-scams-during-covid-19-c-1243904
ATO suffers blow in pursuit of Huang Xiangmo for $140 million – 17 August 2020
Chinese billionaire Huang Xiangmo owes the ATO $140 million (made up of tax, interest and penalities) The appeals court has said however that his substantial offshore assets cannot be the subject of a freezing order. The ATO is expected to lodge an appeal against this decision.
Nigerian billionaire ‘betrayed’ when he agreed to sell a classic Aussie invention – 16 August 2020
Dr Benoy Berry was defrauded by agents of a Reserve Bank of Australia company (Securency). He was pursuaded to buy a unique Australian invention, “polymer bank notes’, that would be printed as the country’s 20 Naira note. Securency was found guilty of bribery charges.
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Cromwell JV’s adviser stole $53k from ex-employer – 16 August 2020
The chief executive of the property adviser to ‘Cromwell’s proposed Stratus Cromwell Data Centre Fund’, pleaded guilty in 1997 to stealing $53,811 from his ex-employer, commercial real estate agent Jones Lang Wootton for which he was sentenced to 18 months with parole by a Perth District Court.
https://www.afr.com/rear-window/cromwell-jv-s-adviser-stole-53k-from-ex-employer-20200813-p55lbf
