Man charged over alleged $1.5 million Medicare fraud scheme
The alleged $1.5 million scheme was uncovered in a joint police and taskforce investigation.
A 41-year-old man has been arrested and charged over alleged links to a $1.5 million scheme to defraud Medicare. Investigators allege he posed as Services Australia staff to get information from doctors.
The information was later used to submit fraudulent Medicare claims, police allege. The investigation was run jointly by the Australian Federal Police and the Fraud Fusion Taskforce.
The probe began in September last year as part of Operation Orchid. The Fraud Fusion Taskforce is a group of 25 agencies that targets serious fraud against government programs.
Investigators say they found the 41-year-old in Emu Plains, New South Wales. The 41-year-old was allegedly wanted on active arrest warrants in the ACT, NSW, Queensland and South Australia.
Detective Superintendent Tim Underhill said the alleged offending strikes at the heart of Australia's health system.
- $1.5 million
- Alleged scheme value
- 41
- Age of man charged
- Emu Plains, New South Wales
- Where he was found
- 25
- Agencies in the taskforce
Why it mattersFraud like this takes money away from the health care that people rely on, including those most in need.
AustraliaDoctors and clinics should be wary of anyone claiming to be Services Australia staff.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 5 h ago
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