Fourth A-League player expected to be charged over alleged corruption upon return to NSW – 18 May 2024
A fourth A-League player who featured prominently in police interviews with the three men charged over the alleged betting corruption scandal that rocked the Australian sporting world is expected to be charged when he returns to New South Wales. Macarthur FC players Ulises Davila, Kearyn Baccus, and Clayton Lewis were picked up by organised crime detectives, suspected of deliberately conceding yellow cards to manipulate offshore betting markets.
Australians getting better at recognising scams but false billing on the rise – 21 May 2024
Australia’s banks, have made a commitment to implement a suite of measures to combat cyber criminals in a Scam-Safe Accord. One of the measures is to cross-check account names, which has had positive results in other countries. In a statement, the Australian Banking Association said the Scam-Safe Accord “sets an even higher standard of protection by banks to shield consumers from scammers”.
Are we finally winning the war against scams? – 21 May 2024
According to the National Anti-Scam Centre quarterly update for January to March 2023, all three of the government’s key scam reporting agencies reported quarter-to-quarter declines in the financial losses suffered by the people reporting the crimes to them – including the Australian Financial Crimes Exchange. It is believed this is partly due to the success of the cyber ‘A-team’ – a ‘fusion cell’ that joined the ACCC, ASIC and 43 other organisations.
https://ia.acs.org.au/article/2024/are-we-finally-winning-the-war-against-scams-.html
‘I lost my 95-year-old mother’s $1.6m life savings to scammers’ – 21 May 2024
A great-grandmother has lost $1.6 million – her life savings – in a sophisticated scam by criminals who impersonated bank staff. Elaine Spring’s stolen savings were the proceeds from the sale of the family home and were going to be used by her children to help pay for her health care and old-age accommodation.
Access to digital AFR required
James Raptis resigns after ABC investigation reveals his links to plagiarism websites – 22 May 2024
James Raptis, the media lawyer identified by an ABC investigation as being linked to an AI plagiarism operation, has left his position at Australian Community Media (ACM). The network of websites that were publishing plagiarised articles from Australian and international news sites were- called F1 Initiative, League Initiative, Surf Initiative and AliaVera.
Corruption probe finds serious risk of misconduct in $2.8m WA ports tender – 22 May 2024
A report by Western Australia’s corruption watchdog has identified ‘serious misconduct risks’ in relation to a tender awarded by the Mid West Ports Authority (MWPA) to a company owned by a former Mayor.
Dozens of Tasmanian public servants under internal investigation due to adverse findings of child sexual abuse inquiry – 23 May 2024
Tasmania’s Commission of Inquiry (COI) identified 22 public servants who had allegedly committed child sexual abuse, and 42 who failed to take proper steps to prevent abuse or act on allegations. More than six months after the COI report was handed down, 28 are still employed and under internal investigation, while 20 left before an investigation could be finished. The government says it’s asked for investigations to be finished more quickly, and is set to implement 44 of 48 phase one recommendations by the July deadline.
Police “failing” on cybercrime with Ken Gamble – 24 May 2024
A parliamentary inquiry has heard claims Australian law enforcement lack the resources and expertise to properly investigate and prosecute cases of online crime. An international cybercrime investigation firm claims failures in policing have made Australians a favoured target for overseas criminal syndicates. Cybercrime experts say the rapid rise of online scams warrants an urgent improvement of cyber-crime policing.
https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/am/police-failing-on-cybercrime/103887478
Australian Privacy Law to be “Much More like GDPR” – 23 May 2024
The Attorney-General’s proposed changes to Australian privacy law and the Government’s recent response will re-shape the approach of business privacy in Australia. The paper “highlights” the agreed changes likely to have the most immediate impact on business. It also details what to expect from the “agreed in principle” proposed changes.
https://www.clydeco.com/en/insights/2024/05/australian-privacy-law-to-be-much-more-like-gdpr
Court freezes claimant’s funds over fraud allegation – 24 May 2024
A statutory benefits claimant has had her bank funds frozen amid allegations of a “brazen fraud” involving forged invoices for medical care she never received. Haneen Asfour is facing civil action by NRMA Insurance, which sought the freeze order ahead of its bid to recover $380,594 allegedly “obtained by the defendant, on the basis of misleading or deceptive statements or conduct in making her claim”.
https://www.insurancenews.com.au/daily/court-freezes-claimant-s-funds-over-fraud-allegation
Fraudster faked NDIS-approved properties to obtain $38m – 25 May 2024
Disgraced former company director Demetrios “James” Charisiou has been sentenced to 12 years’ jail for fleecing overseas investors of more than $38m. The court heard that he was a greedy former company director with an “inflated ego” ripped off South Korean investors of more than $38m using fake NDIS-approved properties.
Access to Herald Sun required to read article
