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Melissa Caddick’s husband’s surprise request

<p dir="ltr">The husband of fraudster Melissa Caddick has asked for the Federal Court action against him to be dropped. </p> <p dir="ltr">The conwoman, 49, was last seen leaving her $15 million property in Dover Heights in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on November 11, 2020. </p> <p dir="ltr">Caddick was being investigated by Australian Investment and Securities Commission (ASIC) before her disappearance and was accused of stealing millions of dollars from her victims - mostly friends and family - to fund her lifestyle.</p> <p dir="ltr">She disappeared a day after the raid and her hairdresser husband Anthony Koletti, 39, has been dismissed of any wrongdoing. </p> <p dir="ltr">ASIC estimated that Caddick owed $23 million and seized various assets which also saw her husband caught in the mix. </p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Koletti was ordered in May to move out of the mega-million mansion which cost only $6.2 million in 2014 which Caddick bought from unsuspected investors. </p> <p dir="ltr">He agreed to move out but also argued that he was entitled to the $4 million Edgecliff apartment, $7 million in shares and $2 million in jewellery and clothes, <a href="https://www.news.com.au/national/courts-law/melissa-caddicks-husband-anthony-koletti-wants-federal-court-proceedings-against-him-stopped/news-story/49d48995c5787466f7062f51a6bd927a?utm_campaign=EditorialSB&amp;utm_source=news.com.au&amp;utm_medium=Facebook&amp;utm_content=SocialBakers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a> reported.</p> <p dir="ltr">The court documents also showed that Mr Koletti asked for almost $100,000 worth of “personal property” to be returned to him.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Edgecliff property includes five paintings, jewellery, Mr Koletti’s $26,500 wedding band as well as a Gucci wedding dress.</p> <p dir="ltr">On Wednesday, the court heard that Mr Koletti wanted the legal proceedings against him dropped, the publication reported.</p> <p dir="ltr">His lawyer Judy Swan said that the property was not as valuable as he thought and of no concern, particularly after how the media portrayed him. </p> <p dir="ltr">The request is being considered and Ms Swan is hoping for the proceedings to be dropped by the time the case returns to court on July 25.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Supplied</em></p>

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Cancer fraudster Belle Gibson's home raided by authorities

<p>Cancer conwoman Belle Gibson's home has been raided by authorities over half a million dollars worth of unpaid fines.</p> <p>Victoria's Sheriff's office executed a "seizure and sale" warrant on Gibson's Northcote property in Melbourne's inner north on Friday.</p> <p>The founder of Whole Pantry was hit with a $410,000 fine in 2017 after being found guilty of five breaches of consumer law.</p> <p>Gibson sold thousands of copies of her cookbook and wellness app off the back of faking brain cancer and claiming she was cured by natural remedies and healthy living.</p> <p>The 29-year-old now owes over $500,000 in fines, penalties and interest for fraudulent activities.</p> <p>It's believed the items taken from Gibson's property will later be sold in an effort to obtain part of the outstanding fine.</p> <p>A Consumer Affairs Victoria spokeswoman confirmed the raid.</p> <p>“Ms Gibson owes the Victorian public a substantial debt and Consumer Affairs Victoria will continue to pursue repayment,” she said.</p> <p>“A warrant of seizure and sale on Ms Gibson was executed today by Sheriff’s officers at an address in Northcote.”</p> <p>The Federal Court in Australia found the mum-of-one engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct after she claimed to have been diagnosed with brain cancer in 2009, only had four months to live and had rejected conventional treatments and chosen to heal herself naturally.</p> <p>The court also found she had lied about donating proceeds from sales of her book and the app The Whole Pantry to charities or good causes.</p> <p>Gibson’s Northcote home had previously been raided by sheriffs in January 2020 to try to recoup some of her unpaid debt.</p> <p>She sold more than 300,000 copies of her book before the deceit of her fake cancer story emerged in 2015.</p>

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Kochie blasts fraudsters for using his image in elaborate scam

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>David Koch has slammed scammers for using his image to trick Australians into spending their hard-earned cash during a pandemic.</p> <p>He vented while speaking to NSW Police Detective Chief Inspector Gordon Arbinja about a spike in fake celebrity endorsement scams.</p> <p>“This is the bane of my life, these scam ads,” the Channel Seven breakfast TV star said.</p> <p>“It just infuriates me to be used in these scams, so really watch out for them,” he told viewers.</p> <p>In the first three months of 2021 alone, 423 people in NSW reported a fake endorsement scam, including a man who lost $102,000 of his savings after seeing a Facebook ad that was said to be endorsed by Kochie.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">NSW Police detectives are urging potential bitcoin investors to "do their research" before parting with their hard-earned cash after a major spike in fake celebrity endorsement scams. <a href="https://t.co/fo1YrWkK2R">pic.twitter.com/fo1YrWkK2R</a></p> — Sunrise (@sunriseon7) <a href="https://twitter.com/sunriseon7/status/1386819796352716800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2021</a></blockquote> <p>Detective Chief Inspector Arbinja said that the scams regularly appear on social media.</p> <p>“What’s happening is there is a lot of celebrity endorsement going on, coupled with the promise of rich financial rewards,” he explained.</p> <p>“At the beginning, they were quite amateur, but now they’re getting more sophisticated,” Arbinja said of the scams.</p> <p>Potential bitcoin investors are urged to "do their research" and only use legitimate cryptocurrency exchanges that are registered with AUSTRAC.</p> <p><em>Hero image:<span> </span></em><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/sunrise/on-the-show/sunrise-host-david-koch-blasts-fraudsters-using-his-image-for-fake-bitcoin-scams-c-2694563" target="_blank">7NEWS</a></em></p> </div> </div> </div>

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Alleged fraudster arrested amid lavish lifestyle

<p><span>A former St George employee has been charged over allegedly taking at least $590,000 from customers.</span><br /><br /><span>Sarah Daizli, 29, was arrested at the Kiss Kiss Bang Bang cocktail bar on Pitt Street in Sydney on Thursday.</span><br /><br /><span>The woman has been accused of creating fake accounts, transactions and other fraudulent documents and transferring customers' super into these accounts.</span><br /><br /><span>Ms Daizil allegedly spent the money on a number of things including personal and body enhancements and was getting hair extensions put in when police arrested her.</span><br /><br /><span>"We will be alleging that she led a very luxurious lifestyle in regard to the funds she obtained," Detective Superintendent Linda Howlett, State Crime Command Financial Crimes Squad said on Thursday.</span><br /><br /><span>Police believe there were a number of victims and that more people may still come forward.</span><br /><br /><span>"This was an employee working for a banking institution that had the trust of her employer and her employees as well and she used that position within the bank to rob innocent victims of their funds."</span><br /><br /><span>Detectives launched the investigation in May and two people have been arrested in relation to the allegations so far.</span></p>

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Cancer fraudster faces another jail term

<p>A Melbourne woman who faked having cancer and scammed money from friends and family has been jailed for eight months.</p> <p>Hanna Dickenson, 26, was ordered to serve eight months in prison by Victorian County Court Judge Paul Lacava for breaching a “<a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/despicable-cancer-fraudster-jailed-for-fundraising-rort-victoria/5faa2d08-f7b7-4e3f-828a-2734a6a62117">lenient</a>” sentence and continuing to defraud those around her.</p> <p>Dickenson was jailed for three months in 2018 after she convinced her parents to give her money for cancer treatments.</p> <p>Dickenson’s parents rallied up $42,000 from neighbours and friends, but she spent the cash to party with friends, go on overseas holidays purchase alcohol and drugs, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-10/woman-who-faked-cancer-duped-friends-and-neighbours-jailed/9638464">a court heard</a>.</p> <p>Following a successful appeal against the jail term, she received a <a href="https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/cancer-conwoman-hanna-dickenson-avoids-jail-after-successful-appeal/news-story/d4d06db6d612c1286eb522a2d23b32d1">two-year community corrections order</a>, which required her to complete 200 hours of unpaid community work and undergo drug and mental health treatment.</p> <p>Last year, Dickenson breached the order after she attempted to falsify documents to get a $30,000 car loan. She was sentenced to another three-month prison term in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, but immediately appealed the decision.</p> <p>This month, the court heard Dickenson is facing other charges, including using other people’s identity to acquire mobile phones and a Commonwealth offence relating to the disability pension.</p> <p>“You did not take the opportunity to rehabilitate yourself or to learn from your mistakes,” Judge Lacava said.</p> <p>The judge re-sentenced Dickenson for the crimes on Monday. “The public needs to be protected from you and you will be sent to prison,” he said.</p>

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Why she won't pay: Cancer fraudster Belle Gibson’s "financial crisis"

<p>Belle Gibson has told the court she is in a financial crisis and drowning under the weight of over $170,000 in personal debt.</p> <p>The cancer fraudster has written in a letter to the Federal Court of Australia that she has been unable to pay a cent back of her $500,000 fine to taxpayers for years of lying about having a terminal brain illness and saying eating healthy cured her cancer.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BwVQmTvnlNf/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BwVQmTvnlNf/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Alyce Cooper Solicitor (@alycecoopersolicitor)</a> on Apr 16, 2019 at 2:52pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>In the letter, Gibson explained: “I am indebted to BMW Finance resulting from a personal guarantee in excess of $50,000.</p> <p>“I have a fully drawn credit card with ANZ owing $30,000 and another personal debt exceeding $90,000, all of which I cannot pay.</p> <p>“Consequently, I am not able to pay the amounts ordered by Justice Mortimer [Federal Court judge presiding over Ms. Gibson’s case].”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/4gs5kRlkc3/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/4gs5kRlkc3/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Leah | Business Mindset Coach (@thegoldengoosehq)</a> on Jun 29, 2015 at 4:13am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Gibson revealed she hasn't got a job and receives the parenting payment from Centrelink to care for her son. </p> <p>Gibson ended her letter, written 14 November 2017, by asking the government to approach her accountant directly in the future, “given my current health”. </p> <p>Her original $410,000 fine has ballooned past $500,000 due to interest. </p>

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Traveller’s own blunder exposes him as insurance fraudster

<p>A dishonest traveller has been exposed of insurance fraud after making a series of blunders in his insurance claim.</p> <p>The traveller told his insurer, 1Cover Travel Insurance, that he had been robbed of his backpack and brand new $6300 DSLR camera while holidaying in Fiji.</p> <p>According to the dramatic story, he jumped in his car to pursue the thief but lost him.</p> <p>He claimed that he then informed local police, who launched an investigation but were unable to reclaim his belongings.</p> <p>The fraudster lodged a claim with 1Cover and provided all the necessary documents, including the proof of purchase of the stolen Canon DSLR.</p> <p>Although the dodgy receipt included details of the Visa payment and the Brisbane store he claimed to have bought it from, the fraudster overlooked some glaring errors.</p> <p>The word “taxable” had been misspelt “tacable”, “basement” in the store’s address was spelt “basemant” and “approved” had only one ‘p’ – leading the insurance company to correctly deduce that this was a bogus claim.</p> <p>Sadly, false travel insurance claims are costing Australians more than $2.2 billion each year.</p> <p>“This example is just one of the many instances of dishonest people trying to cheat insurers and their more trustworthy customers,” Comparetravelinsurance.com.au director Natalie Ball told <a href="https://www.news.com.au"><strong style="font-style: inherit;"><u>news.com.au</u></strong></a>.</p> <p>“The average fraudster isn’t photoshopping receipts for items never purchased for holidays that never happened, though — it’s more often exaggerating the value of stolen luggage, claiming items against both a stand-alone and credit card policy, or misrepresenting misplaced items as stolen.”</p> <p>Distorting the truth or submitting an outright lie to an insurance company is not a victimless crime, with the law supporting insurers.</p> <p>“While some people like to convince themselves that this is a victimless crime — a big insurer won’t miss $800, right? — it’s important to understand that the insurer reserves the right to go to the police, which can lead to charges,” said Richard Warburton, the chief operating officer of 1Cover Travel Insurance.</p> <p>“In the digital world that we live in, fraud detection has become more sophisticated and information can be validated regardless of where you’ve been travelling.</p> <p>“The team at 1Cover are well versed at identifying flawed stories and odd receipts. We also have access to private investigators for more complex claims.”</p> <p>Insurance fraudsters could face fines and jail time for their crimes, including a maximum sentence of 10 years in Victoria and NSW and five years in Queensland.</p> <p>Insurance companies can also add fraudsters to “Do Not Insure” backlists, which would make it almost impossible to get health, car or home insurance in the future.</p> <p>Investigating fake claims also drains money from companies, forcing everyone to pay more through higher premiums.</p> <p>“Even when fraudsters are caught, any staff time or resources used to process or investigate fake claims costs travel insurers and their customers’ money,” Ms Ball said.</p> <p>To avoid falling for dodgy scams, travel insurers often take up to 10 business days for claims to be processed and require sufficient evidence to support a claim.</p> <p>“Waiting a few business days might seem inconvenient for customers but it’s important for insurers to be prudent in catching the fakes to keep travel insurance affordable for everyone,” Ms Ball said.</p>

Travel Trouble

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Fraudsters hiding tiny cameras hidden at ATMs

<p>This ATM appears to be like every other ATM but it has been tampered with by fraudsters. A small pinhead-sized hole in the casing shows the tiny camera that has been inserted into the ATM.</p> <p><em><img width="498" height="315" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/34294/london-atm-2_498x315.jpg" alt="London ATM 2"/></em></p> <p>The London ATM was discovered by police investigating cashpoint tampering who found a tiny hole near the cash dispenser. This tiny camera records ATM users putting in their pin number.</p> <p>This ATM in St Paul’s Churchyard, is just one of the several tampered ATMs that have been discovered in the last month. At the beginning of the month, Police found an ATM where the camera hole was placed in the plastic above the keypad. Behind the plastic were mini-recording devices which could also easily record pin numbers.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="496" height="185" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/34295/london-atm-3_496x185.jpg" alt="London Atm 3"/></p> <p>Police are publishing the photos to show the public just how subtle these cameras are to the untrained eye.</p> <p>PC Matt Clarke, from the City of London Police Crime Squad, said, "If you spot anything unusual about a cash machine, or if there are signs of tampering, don’t use it. If in doubt, try and use a machine inside a branch.”</p> <p>Have you ever seen an ATM that had been tampered with? Let us know in the comments below?</p> <p><em>Image credit: City of London Police</em></p>

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