How to Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft
Identity theft is a growing problem in Australia. According to information from credit bureau Veda, more than 770,000 people have fallen victim to identity theft in the past year alone. It is a crime which has the potential to make...
Gambling Addiction and Crime
Gambling has been a form of popular entertainment in Australia from earliest colonial days right up to the present day, with Australians spending billions of dollars on various forms of gambling each year. Unfortunately, gambling can get addictive and lead...
Would You Pay Someone to Take on Your Demerit Points?
Social media reaches into almost every aspect of our lives these days, and it has proven to be both useful and dangerous. It offers a great deal of convenience, but at the same time it has the potential to land...
Lies, Deception and Fraud: What is the Difference?
We all know that people lie. But not all lies are deception, and not all deceptions amount to fraud under criminal law. The case of Belle Gibson Belle Gibson is a social media entrepreneur and developer of The Whole Pantry...
Is Your Lawyer the Real Deal? Consequences for faking a law degree
If you watch the legal drama Suits you would be familiar with the plight of Mike Ross, a college dropout who lands a job working alongside infamous New York lawyer Harvey Specter, despite never having received a law degree. But...
What to do if you suspect a police officer is fake
Nobody likes being pulled over by police, but what should you do if you suspect the person standing by the roadside is not a genuine police officer? While it might sound a bit like something out of a movie plot,...
Is Having Bills to Pay an Acceptable Fraud Defence?
A university contractor under investigation by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) for fraud has told the inquiry that he was unable to pay his water and electricity bills on his $180,000 salary from Macquarie University, which led him to...
Online Love Predators Raking in Millions
No doubt plenty of people were sent flowers and cards on Valentine’s Day earlier this month, but others may have received a less romantic surprise in the mail. Catfish fraud is the term used when a person assumes a fake...
Penalties for Fraud and Deception Offences: Recent Case Studies
Deception offences cover a broad range of criminal offences that can be committed against the Commonwealth or against individuals. Penalties for deception offences can vary considerably, depending on a number of different factors. Deception and fraud are two offences that...
Wealthy Australians Could Face Tax Evasion Penalties
A number of well-off Australians could face tax evasion penalties in the near future as the ATO has pledged to crack down on wealthy tax dodgers. The ATO is threatening heavy penalties to those who are found to owe substantial...
