Police take down organised crime targeting the Family Day Care Program
Date published
August 2018
Relevant impacts: Financial impact, reputational impact and business impact
Three family members submitted false claims for Family Day Care in 2015 to defraud the program of $955,438.32. The judge noted during sentencing that the family knew the claims were fraudulent as child care services had never been provided. The family members received jail sentences that ranged between 4 years and 18 months.
This family were among 13 individuals charged with various offences by the Australian Federal Police in 2015 and 2016 as part of Operation Caulis. Of the 10 educators charged in Operation Caulis, 9 pleaded guilty to the charge brought against them and 8 have been sentenced.
Related fraudster personas
Related countermeasures
Collaborate with strategic partners such as other government entities, committees, working groups and taskforces. This allows you to share capability, information and intelligence and to prevent and disrupt fraud.
Verify any requests or claim information you receive with an independent and credible source.
Analyse data to improve processes and controls, increase payment accuracy and find and prevent non-compliance, fraud and corruption.
Internal or external audits or reviews evaluate the process, purpose and outcome of activities. Clients, public officials or contractors can take advantage of weaknesses in government programs and systems to commit fraud, act corruptly, and avoid exposure.
Fraud detection software programs automatically analyse data to detect what is different from what is standard, normal or expected and may indicate fraud or corruption.
Coordinate disruption activities across multiple programs or entities to strengthen processes and identify serious and organised criminals targeting multiple programs. It can also include referrals to law enforcement agencies for those groups that reach the threshold for complex criminal investigations.
Investigate fraud in line with the Australian Government Investigation Standards (AGIS).
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