Two men have been charged as part of an ongoing investigation into coordinated fraudulent claims against insurance schemes, NSW Police say.
Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Financial Crimes Squad established Strike Force Mercury to investigate the involvement of organised criminal syndicates in defrauding insurance schemes, including making fraudulent Compulsory Third Party (CTP) claims.
The investigation is an extension of previous inquiries conducted following recommendations by the NSW Government’s CTP Task Force.
As part of ongoing inquiries, strike force detectives executed three search warrants at smash repairers at Concord West, Greenacre, and Homebush West, and a home unit at Strathfield, about 9am yesterday (Tuesday 14 August 2018).
During the searches, detectives seized a number of items relevant to the investigation.
Two men – aged 28 and 50 – were arrested during the operation and taken to local police stations.
The 28-year-old Strathfield man was charged with dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception, conspire with other to cheat and defraud, two counts of recruit other to assist in carrying out criminal activity, and knowingly participate in criminal group assist crime.
The 50-year-old Concord West man was charged with conspiracy to dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception and conspire with other to cheat and defraud.
Police will allege in court that the men were involved in staging and/or fabricating crashes to assist with lodging fraudulent claims against the CTP or other insurance schemes.
Both men were granted strict conditional bail and are due to appear at Burwood Local Court on Monday 10 September 2018.
Investigations under Strike Force Mercury are ongoing.
Anyone with information in relation to fraudulent claims against any government scheme is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
