Service NSW and the NSW Police Force have teamed up to investigate fraudulent applications for COVID-19 business support payments.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Service NSW, Damon Rees said Strike Force Sainsbery would identify individuals who had fraudulently sought payments intended to support businesses and residents through lockdown restrictions.
“From 20 September, businesses were required to reaffirm their eligibility each fortnight to continue to receive the 2021 COVID-19 micro-business grant payments,” Mr Rees said.
“Service NSW fraud and compliance investigators identified anomalies in some applications made for the 2021 COVID-19 micro-business grant in late October,” he said.
“It is incredibly disappointing that deliberate, coordinated fraudsters have undermined the systems put in place to support the businesses of NSW in one of the most challenging times we have faced.”
Mr Rees said there were multiple checks and balances in place to ensure applications were properly reviewed and taxpayer funds went to those who met the eligibility criteria and who needed it most.
The CEO said Service NSW had so far investigated suspected fraudulent grant applications worth $15.9 million, which equated to 2.6 per cent of all paid applications.
He said a further $4.6 million in suspected fraudulent micro-business grant applications had been prevented from being paid.
“Service NSW continues to detect and investigate suspected fraudulent applications across all its grant programs,” Mr Rees said.
Assistant Commissioner and State Crime Commander at the NSW Police Force, Stuart Smith said State Crime Command would use a state-of-the-art artificial intelligence system designed to mass analyse and cross-reference metadata to catch “greedy fraudsters”.
“Let this be a warning to anyone who made a fraudulent application,” Assistant Commissioner Smith said.
“It will not be long before we are knocking on your door,” he said.
