12 stories this week:
Tax Office To Investigate 40,000 Australians Over Fake Business Scam – 6 May 2022
The Australian Taxation Office is cracking down on an $850 million fraud being spruiked on social media that involves people inventing fake businesses to claim GST refunds. It involves offenders setting up sham businesses and ABN applications, then submitting fictional Business Activity Statements to get a false GST refund.
Screen-sharing scams on the rise, watchdog warns – 6 May 2022
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is warning people to beware of people posing as investment advisers and offering to help them set up new schemes via online meeting platforms. They ask their victim to share the screen and enable remote access – which hands over control of their device and, potentially their bank account.
Employee monitoring software became the new normal during COVID-19. It seems workers are stuck with it – 6 May 2022
During the pandemic employee monitoring software, became the new normal, logging keystrokes and mouse movement, capturing screenshots, tracking location, and even activating webcams and microphones. Now the software is here to stay, even in the office. Furthermore, there’s no consistent set of laws operating across jurisdictions in Australia that regulate surveillance of the workplace.
Whistleblowers claim Facebook’s chaotic Australia news ban was a negotiating tactic – 6 May 2022
Former employees, backed by the Whistleblower Aid charity, claim Facebook purposefully “over-blocked” Australian pages during a critical ‘fire” period in order to gain leverage over the Australian government. Complaints filed with Australia’s Competition & Consumer Commission and the US Department of Justice, allege that the company engaged in “a criminal conspiracy to obtain a thing of value, namely favorable regulatory treatment”.
Hotel scams: What travellers need to look out for when booking online – 7 May 2022
There is a rise in scammers sending emails pretending to come from hoteliers and travel companies, directing holiday makers to fake COVID verification sites, that are there to steal their information and infect their computer. Scams often seek to get personal information such as birthdays, bank details, or other valuable confidential data. Unfortunately, many of these details are required when booking flights and hotels, making the travel industry a prime target for data breaches.
Public Interest Disclosures: Compensation for whistleblowers – 7 May 2022
Article outlines what a public interest disclosure is, who can make a public interest disclosures and what compensation there is for detrimental action taken against whistleblowers.
Corporate chicanery unveiled, Ice Hockey Australia supremo gets iced – 8 May 2022
Grove Bennet, a bankrupt and failed pyramid schemer’s management of Australian ice hockey has come to a fast finish because of an investigation in Michael West Media. Amongst other allegations it has been recorded that monetary data offered by Bennett was ‘misleading’, ‘false’ and ‘negligently misrepresented’.
https://michaelwest.com.au/corporate-chicanery-unveiled-ice-hockey-australia-supremo-gets-iced/
‘PC insanity’: How to handle misconduct investigations in the workplace – 10 May 2022
Article discusses some of the common mistakes made by employers when dealing with workplace misconduct. It states that allegations needs to demonstrate that the conclusions were properly reached, have regard to all of the evidence, and that there’s an explanation as to why decisions were made.
Australian ‘Casanova Conman’ sentenced in visa fraud case – 11 May 2022
An Australian national (Paul Cristallo known as Paul Carter) has been repeatedly accused of swindling women, including allegedly defrauding his mother, was sentenced to eight months after pleading guilty to visa fraud. Carter allegedly posed as a multimillionaire developer and would woo women into turning over to him control of their financial assets.
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Australian-Casanova-Conman-sentenced-in-visa-17165286.php
‘It pays to do your homework’: ASIC urges Australians to seek out licensed advisers – 12 May 2022
The corporate regulator has urged Australians who are seeking financial advice, to only connect with licenced professionals ensuring the adviser is both qualified and licensed, or authorised, to do the job.
Portland doctor Abraham Stephanson admits to defrauding $792k from patients – 11 May 2022
Abraham Stephanson who was a Portland doctor has pleaded guilty to deception charges after defrauding 19 people out of almost $800,000 to support his gambling addiction and pay of his own mortgage. Stephanson used the guise of his father’s diagnosis of terminal cancer to defraud his victims.
Organised crime rampant across Australia, secret briefings reveal – 13 May 2022
Organised crime is running rampant across Australia and agencies are struggling to fight it, according to secret briefings given to cabinet ministers and senior public servants, by the highest-ranking organised crime fighter in NSW. Police Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith says the fight against organised crime was hampered by the lacklustre approach of the nation’s financial crime agency Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC)
