Warrnambool police arrest nine people into alleged COVID grant fraud

A Victoria Police spokesman said detectives from the Warrnambool police crime investigation unit had arrested a number of people following an investigation into alleged fraudulent COVID-19 test isolation applications.

Nine people were charged as part of the ongoing investigation including:

All have been charged with a range of offences including attempting to obtain property by deception and obtain property by deception.

The offences carry penalties of up to 10 years' jail.

The accused people were bailed to appear at a magistrates' court at a later date.

Police will allege they provided false information and employment details in order to obtain a COVID-19 test isolation payment.

It comes after a 49-year-old Warrnambool woman appeared in Warrnambool Magistrates' Court last month charged with fraudulently obtaining the $450 payment from the state government.

The payment scheme was established by the government to support those forced to self-isolate while waiting for coronavirus test results.

Those who isolated for two days and were unable to attend work received a payment of $450.

The woman allegedly applied for the payment using her own identity, including her date of birth and mobile phone number, on August 22 last year.

She indicated she worked for a lawn mowing business, which was allegedly confirmed by a 36-year-old Warrnambool woman.

But police alleged she lied about being employed and that the business did not exist.

The payment was deposited into her bank on September 3.

The woman was arrested this year, interviewed and charged with obtaining property by deception.

She will appear in court at a later date.

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