9 stories this week:
Elie Douna: Illawarra property developer sentenced for $15m loan scam – 21 September 2022
A disgraced Illawarra property developer has been sentenced for orchestrating a failed $14.7 million loan scam. Douna made up fake potential buyers in an effort to obtain a nearly $15 million loan.
Donald Trump and adult children sued by New York attorney-general for fraud – 22 September 2022
Former US president Donald Trump and his company have been sued by New York’s Attorney-General for fraud, allegedly padding his net worth by billions of dollars by manipulating the value of assets when preparing his company’s annual financial statements from 2011-2021. His children Donald Trump Jr and Ivanka Trump have also been accused of aiding the alleged fraud.
Former first lady of Honduras Rosa Bonilla jailed after spending more than $756,000 on credit cards and school fees – 22 September 2022
The former first lady of Honduras, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison on charges of fraud and misappropriation of funds destined for social programs. She spent $756,609
meant for low-income children on personal credit card payments, her children’s school fees and real estate construction.
Former Cancer Council ambassador Amanda Power charged with fraud – 23 September 2022
A former Cancer Council ambassador has been charged with nine counts of fraud, after she allegedly faked a cancer diagnosis, to secure thousands of dollars from the community.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-22/cancer-fraud-amanda-power-charged/101465424
Warning over ‘spike’ in puppy scams causing $4.2m nightmare for Australians – 23 September 2022
Thousands of Australians have been hit by puppy scams, losing thousands in the process, with warnings there has been another spike in recent weeks. The (ACCC) revealed losses from pet scams have jumped more than 1000 per cent over the last two years.
ClubsNSW accuses terminally ill whistleblower of ‘blatant self-interest’ – 23 September 2022
Troy Stolz, who worked at ClubsNSW from 2011 to 2019, is being sued by his former employer for breaching the confidentiality clause of his contract, after he released an internal report that found 95 per cent of registered clubs were not compliant with money laundering laws. ClubsNSW is also prosecuting him for contempt, alleging that he intimidated, harassed or otherwise brought improper pressure on the organisation in his public comments.
Access to digital version of SMH required to read article
Secrecy Is Lifted, But the Government Continues Its Punitive Prosecution of Richard Boyle – 23 September 2022
ATO whistleblower Richard Boyle is set to go before the Adelaide District Court to continue his public interest disclosure (PID) defence proceedings. And despite the Commonwealth, yet again, attempting to hide evidence of corruption, an applied suppression order has been lifted.
1 in 5 Aussies prepared to lie for loans – 23 September 2022
A damning new report has shone a light on the growing issue of multifaceted and complex loan-seeker fraud in the domestic mortgage market. One in five (19 per cent) Australians believe it’s okay to tell a “white lie” and report having less debt than they actually have in a financial service or loan application.
https://www.mortgagebusiness.com.au/lender/17222-1-in-5-aussies-prepared-to-lie-for-loans
Older Aussies are exposed by shift to online banking – 23 September 2022
ACCC’s Scamwatch reports Australians over 65 have lost more money to phishing scams this year than all other age groups combined – totalling over $6.5 million in the first eight months of the year. A drive by banks to get people banking online combined with an increase of seniors using smartphones, and tablets, makes creates a perfect storm for phishing scammers.
