World · East Asia & Pacific · 2 hrs ago
Five charged in probe of alleged $235m fraud against federal agencies
Australian investigators have charged five people in a probe into alleged fraud involving $235 million in federal funds.
The cases involve claims to the National Disability Insurance Agency, Services Australia, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the Department of Education for services that were not provided or were overstated.
Police say one NDIA employee shared 78 participant records without permission, while another accused person allegedly took $700,000 through false NDIS invoices.
Three Sydney residents are accused of using a phishing scam to redirect Centrelink payments, allegedly making more than 3,000 fraudulent transactions and taking $2.5 million since March 2025.
The alleged fraud affects public money intended for benefits and support, including funding for people with disabilities.
Police have also searched properties as they investigate other suspected NDIS fraud schemes, but no arrests have been made in those separate investigations.
Two of the charged people are due in court in December, and the wider investigations are continuing.
Five people have been charged in an Australian federal investigation into alleged fraud exceeding $235 million against government agencies.
Police allege the schemes involved false or overstated claims for government-funded services and benefits.
The investigation covers alleged fraud involving the National Disability Insurance Agency, Services Australia, Veterans’ Affairs and the Department of Education.
Authorities searched 26 locations across several Australian states and seized devices, documents, cash, silver bullion and jewellery.
The charged people include an NDIA employee, a man accused of defrauding his own NDIS plan, and three people accused of redirecting Centrelink payments.
- Who
- Five people have been charged. Police are also investigating other people and alleged fraud networks.
- What
- The charges are part of a probe into more than $235 million allegedly defrauded from federal agencies.
- When
- The article was published on November 4, 2026; the raids took place over the preceding three months.
- Where
- Searches took place in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, the Central Coast in New South Wales and rural Queensland.
- Why
- Police allege the suspects made false or overstated claims for services, benefits and support payments.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The AFP says an alleged group of NDIS providers and a plan manager claimed $100 million in funding.
Three people allegedly made more than 3,000 fraudulent transactions and stole $2.5 million in redirected support payments.
Police raided 26 locations across Australia.
The NDIA employee and the man accused of defrauding his own NDIS plan are due to face court.
- Alleged total
- More than $235 million
- Raids
- 26 locations
- Personnel involved
- More than 100 police officers and more than 150 Commonwealth department personnel
- NDIA employee records
- 78 participant records allegedly shared without authorisation
- Alleged Centrelink fraud
- $2.5 million across more than 3,000 transactions
- NDIS providers and plan manager
- $100 million allegedly claimed since 2019
What people are saying
While the majority do the right thing, there are groups in our country who selfishly rort the system for their own personal gain,
NDIS funding is for participant supports, not the pockets of those seeking to exploit the scheme,