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Federal officers raid High Wycombe home after woman allegedly submitted false hardship claims to access superannuation payments worth thousands

Phil HickeyThe West Australian
VideoA 34-year-old High Wycombe woman has been charged with allegedly submitting multiple false claims to gain early access to superannuation savings, under a scheme designed to assist members of the community who are in severe financial hardship.

A High Wycombe woman has been charged with allegedly submitting multiple false claims to gain early access to superannuation savings, following a raid on her home on Friday by federal officers.

The 34-year-old woman is the fourth person to be charged by the Australian Federal Police anti-fraud Taskforce Iris.

Her arrest follows a referral from the Australian Taxation Office-led Serious Financial Crime Taskforce.

Police will allege the woman submitted several false hardship claims on behalf of other people to access superannuation payments of up to $10,000 each.

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It will be alleged that after successfully receiving a hardship payment from her own superannuation account, she transferred the remaining balance into another fund and made another hardship application.

Taskforce Iris investigators executed a search warrant at the woman’s home on Friday where they seized several documents, $1750 cash, ink-based business identification and certification stamps, and electronic devices.

The 34-year-old woman is the fourth person to be charged by the Australian Federal Police anti-fraud Taskforce Iris.
Camera IconThe 34-year-old woman is the fourth person to be charged by the Australian Federal Police anti-fraud Taskforce Iris. Credit: Australian Federal Police

The woman will face Perth Magistrates Court next month on four Commonwealth related charges.

The hardship provision pre-dates the temporary support measures introduced by the Federal Government because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Applicants must meet certain criteria to access a payment of up to $10,000 from their superannuation account.

But AFP Deputy Commissioner Brett Pointing said the agency was committed to identifying anyone trying to exploit the system.

“Fraud is far from a victimless crime and false applications for these packages undermine the system and can delay access to people who genuinely need help,” he said.

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