Service NSW worker reportedly leaks information leading to theft of over $150K in benefits
- Replies 7
In a story fit for the movies, we were shocked to find out about a recent incident involving a Service NSW worker had resulted in the theft of $150,150 in government benefits.
Selina Saab, 22, a contractor for Service NSW, is accused of stealing the identity details of 85 people between July and October 2021 and passing them on to a 23-year-old friend named Salim Merheb, according to an exclusive report by The Daily Mail.
Merheb then allegedly used the information he received to file a series of fraudulent government applications, claiming both the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payments (for NSW flood victims), and the COVID Disaster Payments — a scheme designed to help people affected by public health orders.
Merheb first dipped his hands in taxpayer-funded financial aid between June and July 2021 when he claimed at least $7000 in disaster relief payments.
He next set his eyes on the now-defunct COVID relief scheme which granted anywhere from $200-$750 to Aussies whose work hours were affected by lockdowns and restrictions placed on movement in the earlier days of the pandemic.
Merheb went so far as to try his luck with the government’s Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment as well — on December 9, 2021, Merheb filed three claims for the payment just as it was announced that it would be halved from $1500 to $750 in keeping with shortened state and territory isolation requirements.
A week later, the Australian Federal Police searched Merheb’s home in Mount Pritchard and took possession of several items of interest.
Oddly enough, The Daily Mail notes that Merheb, seemingly undeterred with his brush with the AFP, continued filing fraudulent claims up to March of 2022.
Two months later in May, Merheb was arrested and charged with the possession of suspected proceeds of crime and 33 counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception.
According to the National Criminal Lawyers, the maximum penalty for possession of suspected proceeds of crime is up to 20 years imprisonment, while obtaining financial advantage by deception has 10 years imprisonment.
Alternatively, those found committing fraud against Centrelink may additionally (or instead) pay a fine ranging from $10,000 - $100,000 and repay the amount of benefits stolen back to the government, according to Dribbin & Brown.
The Daily Mail added that court documents also show that Merheb had first started making fraudulent claims as early as April 2021.
Meanwhile, Saab was also taken in for questioning the following November in a raid that saw the seizure of several items of interest, including pertinent documents, a mobile phone, and other electronic documents.
She was arrested, granted bail, and was made to appear at the Downing Centre Local Court last December 14, 2022.
Saab faces charges of one count of dealing identification information and using it to commit fraud and will make an appearance in court early on Wednesday, February 8.
According to the NSW Crimes Act of 1900, the maximum penalty for her charge is 10 years imprisonment.
Merheb is said to have skipped a hearing for his case on January 20. The hearing was adjourned, with the next one expected to be held on Friday, February 3.
Several aspects of the story still remain unclear, including how exactly Saab and Merheb are connected, the degree to which their activities were conducted, and how authorities were tipped off that the two were somehow flagged as suspicious prior to the raid on their respective residences.
Hopefully, more details surface in the coming days.
Service NSW has yet to address The Daily Mail’s report.
This also isn’t the first case of people taking advantage of systems and their positions to make a quick buck illegally.
In June of last year, a couple in Sydney were accused of using fake identities to collect over $57,000 in COVID relief.
Then there’s also the aged care worker who shamelessly used the debit card of an 81-year-old pensioner with dementia, resulting in the poor senior racking up a $23,000 debt.
Still, if there are any silver linings to such a disappointing story, it’s that the bad guys got their due in the end. Fraudsters, be warned!
What is your reaction to this story? Can you think of any measures that would deter similar acts in the future?
Tell us in the comments section below!
Selina Saab, 22, a contractor for Service NSW, is accused of stealing the identity details of 85 people between July and October 2021 and passing them on to a 23-year-old friend named Salim Merheb, according to an exclusive report by The Daily Mail.
Merheb then allegedly used the information he received to file a series of fraudulent government applications, claiming both the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payments (for NSW flood victims), and the COVID Disaster Payments — a scheme designed to help people affected by public health orders.
Merheb first dipped his hands in taxpayer-funded financial aid between June and July 2021 when he claimed at least $7000 in disaster relief payments.
He next set his eyes on the now-defunct COVID relief scheme which granted anywhere from $200-$750 to Aussies whose work hours were affected by lockdowns and restrictions placed on movement in the earlier days of the pandemic.
Saab stands accused of relaying sensitive information of 85 NSW residents to another man accused of fraud. Image Credit: Pexels/Tima Miroshnichenko
Merheb went so far as to try his luck with the government’s Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment as well — on December 9, 2021, Merheb filed three claims for the payment just as it was announced that it would be halved from $1500 to $750 in keeping with shortened state and territory isolation requirements.
A week later, the Australian Federal Police searched Merheb’s home in Mount Pritchard and took possession of several items of interest.
Oddly enough, The Daily Mail notes that Merheb, seemingly undeterred with his brush with the AFP, continued filing fraudulent claims up to March of 2022.
Two months later in May, Merheb was arrested and charged with the possession of suspected proceeds of crime and 33 counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception.
According to the National Criminal Lawyers, the maximum penalty for possession of suspected proceeds of crime is up to 20 years imprisonment, while obtaining financial advantage by deception has 10 years imprisonment.
Alternatively, those found committing fraud against Centrelink may additionally (or instead) pay a fine ranging from $10,000 - $100,000 and repay the amount of benefits stolen back to the government, according to Dribbin & Brown.
The Daily Mail added that court documents also show that Merheb had first started making fraudulent claims as early as April 2021.
Merheb potentially faces decades in prison should he be convicted of his charges in relation to his false benefit claims. Image Credit: Pexels/Sora Shimazaki
Meanwhile, Saab was also taken in for questioning the following November in a raid that saw the seizure of several items of interest, including pertinent documents, a mobile phone, and other electronic documents.
She was arrested, granted bail, and was made to appear at the Downing Centre Local Court last December 14, 2022.
Saab faces charges of one count of dealing identification information and using it to commit fraud and will make an appearance in court early on Wednesday, February 8.
According to the NSW Crimes Act of 1900, the maximum penalty for her charge is 10 years imprisonment.
Merheb is said to have skipped a hearing for his case on January 20. The hearing was adjourned, with the next one expected to be held on Friday, February 3.
Several aspects of the story still remain unclear, including how exactly Saab and Merheb are connected, the degree to which their activities were conducted, and how authorities were tipped off that the two were somehow flagged as suspicious prior to the raid on their respective residences.
Hopefully, more details surface in the coming days.
Service NSW has yet to address The Daily Mail’s report.
This also isn’t the first case of people taking advantage of systems and their positions to make a quick buck illegally.
Then there’s also the aged care worker who shamelessly used the debit card of an 81-year-old pensioner with dementia, resulting in the poor senior racking up a $23,000 debt.
Still, if there are any silver linings to such a disappointing story, it’s that the bad guys got their due in the end. Fraudsters, be warned!
What is your reaction to this story? Can you think of any measures that would deter similar acts in the future?
Tell us in the comments section below!
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give them maximum jail time parasites
