‘N.Z. nationals’ in Social Security fraud
NZPA Canberra New Zealanders and Cuban refugees are involved in two of four groups of people under investigation bv the Australian Federal Police for possible organised Social Security cheque frauds. Four separate groups were allegedly involved in such schemes, said the officer in charge of the Australian Federal Police Criminal Investigation Division, Chief Superintendent Colin Winchester. Several arrests have been made in cases involving the New Zealand and Qiban groups. Similar types of offences have also been referred to the Federal Police by the Costigan Royal Commission into the Ship Painters and Dockers’ Union and the Federal Police are investigating a fourth group based in Melbourne but also functioning out of Sydney. “One group, consisting mostly of New Zealand nationals, indentified themselves with New Zealand drivers’ licences or birth certificates in names made
out to that on the cheque,” Mr Winchester said. "The second group, of Cuban refugees, identified themselves by way of Department of Social Security letters completed in the names of the cheque. “Each letter has a Social Security Department rubber stamp imprint on it, which tends to indicate that the group has possession of this stamp,” Mr Winchester said. “A number of persons have been arrested from both groups and inquiries are continuing,” he said. It is not known how much money is involved in the frauds but in at least three cases cheques of up to sAust3o,ooo (about $42,000) are thought to have been paid into bank accounts in one month. Some of the groups also are considered to be still active. Mr Winchester earlier yesterday identified two of the groups in evidence to the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts. He is expected to give further evidence on March 28.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19840310.2.159
Bibliographic details
Press, 10 March 1984, Page 29
Word Count
291‘N.Z. nationals’ in Social Security fraud Press, 10 March 1984, Page 29
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Copyright in all Footrot Flats cartoons is owned by Diogenes Designs Ltd. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise these cartoons and make them available online as part of this digitised version of the Press. You can search, browse, and print Footrot Flats cartoons for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Diogenes Designs Ltd for any other use.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.