Fraud and compliance

The TAC is committed to protecting the funds and other assets placed under its control and protection for the benefit of the people of Victoria.  Fraud represents potential risks to these funds and assets.

The TAC will not tolerate fraudulent or corrupt activities against its interests and will vigorously pursue parties engaged in such practices or attempting to do so.

How to make a report

Fraud and the TAC

Read the TAC Compliance and Enforcement Policy

Prosecutions

How to make a report

Should you wish to make a report of fraudulent behaviour or other breaches of the TAC legislation, please contact the TAC's Fraud and Compliance Group by completing the online form,  emailing Fraud_Compliance@tac.vic.gov.au or by calling 1300 654 329.

Complete the online form

Fraud and the TAC

Fraud is dishonest activity or potential financial loss to the TAC  including theft of moneys or other property by employees or persons external to the TAC. This includes:

  • the deliberate falsification, concealment or destruction of documentation
  • falsified documentation used or intended for use for a normal business purpose
  • the improper use of information or position.

The following are examples of fraudulent behaviour:

  • knowingly submitting a false claim
  • providing false information
  • working whilst on compensation benefits
  • altering a medical certificate
  • submitting false travel expense claims
  • claiming for services which were not given (service providers) and
  • providing false invoices, medical certificates.

Actions that may be taken by the TAC

Following an investigation, the TAC may:

  • Commence criminal proceedings under relevant provisions of the TA Act or relevant criminal legislation
  • Issue a letter of caution to the person
  • Determine whether civil action should be taken to recover compensation amounts overpaid
  • Refer the matter to the Victoria Police, the Coroner, the Office of Public Prosecutions (OPP) or another body (including professional or trade regulatory bodies such as the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the Legal Services  Board) or
  • Take no further action.

Any employee found to have engaged in, or concealed any such behaviour, may be disciplined, and their employment may be terminated.

TAC billing review program

The TAC has a Billing Review Program to ensure that payments for services provided to TAC clients are reasonable and appropriate. For more information please refer to:

2021/22 - Disrupting Fraud

By constantly evaluating emerging risks and using contemporary analytical methods, models, intelligence gathering and reporting techniques, the TAC is better equipped to identify potential fraud and claim anomalies at its origin.  

The early identification of vulnerabilities, due to changes in service and benefit provision created by the global pandemic, has allowed the Forensics Group to  expand our fraud risk assessments, improve our proactive fraud detection capability and create diverse opportunities to enhance our monitoring activities.

Telehealth, clients and providers supplying false information to the TAC, provider billing anomalies and clients potentially returning to work without notifying the TAC have all contributed to an elevated fraud risk profile during the second year of the pandemic.

Through our continuous monitoring, detection and response enhancements, significant growth has occurred in the number of reviews, investigations and prosecutions being initiated, effectively disrupting fraudulent behaviour and providing both a general and specific deterrence to fraud being committed against the TAC.

Throughout 2021-2022, the following enforcement action was taken:

  • Twenty (20) prosecutions were finalised through the Magistrates Court. All cases resulting in a finding of guilt having a total amount in restitution being awarded to the TAC of $683,209.
  • Thirty-Two (32) matters are currently before the courts where TAC is alleging fraud against the scheme totalling $1,521,763.
  • There are a further Four (4) matters where prosecution has been endorsed with two matters referred to Victoria Police due to the fraud amount and statute of limitation issues and two matters awaiting service of charges totalling $450,089.
  • A further Nine (9) matters relate to TAC clients wanted on Warrant with charges yet to be served, with a total fraud amount outstanding of $373,510.

The total alleged fraud against TAC before courts or awaiting service of charges is $2,345,362.

There are a further Eight (8) matters currently being reviewed for legal advice with a view to prosecution or other enforcement action, with a potential fraud amount of $234,426.

Cases that have not met the prosecution threshold are dealt with through the TAC’s principal means of achieving prompt voluntary compliance. Seventeen (17) warning letters were sent for breaches of the Transport Accident Act 1986 relating to fraud and providing false information to the TAC by clients, incorporating demands for reimbursement where appropriate.

Billing Review Program

During the 2021–2022 financial year, the TAC enhanced their proactive monitoring of service provider billing behaviour and adjusted their control landscape, which was supplemented by internal business referrals and information received from the public.

This program focuses on ensuring the invoicing supplied by service providers and the subsequent payments made are an accurate reflection of the services provided to TAC clients. For this reporting period, continuous monitoring activities and reviews were undertaken on more than 200 providers across a broad range of disciplines including Surgery, Physiotherapy, Pharmacy, Occupational Therapy and General Practitioners.

Prosecutions

Date Defendant Court Judge/ Magistrate Result
13 Feb 2024 Client AL Bendigo Magistrates' Court Kelly
  • Plea of Guilty
  • 18 month Community Corrections Order (CCO) to perform 200 hours of unpaid work, with conviction
  • Restitution of $62,633.70
  • Professional Costs of $2,380
07 Dec 2023 Client AK Ringwood Magistrates' Court Henderson
  • Plea of Guilty
  • Fine of $4,500 with conviction
  • Restitution of $10,000 ($44,490 repaid prior to hearing)
  • Professional costs of $1,803
20 Nov 2023 Client AJ Frankston Magistrates' Court Langton
  • Plea of Not Guilty
  • 12 month adjourned undertaking to be of good behaviour, with conviction
  • Restitution of $64,371.88
16 Nov 2023 Client AI Frankston Magistrates' Court Spowert
  • Plea of Guilty
  • Fine of $2,500 with conviction
  • Restitution of $16,219
  • Professional costs of $1,621
04 Oct 2023 Client AH Heidelberg Magistrates' Court Livingston
  • Plea of Guilty
  • Fine of  $10,000 without conviction
  • Restitution of $7,888.55
21 Aug 2023 Client AG Ringwood Magistrates' Court Fluxman
  • Plea of Guilty
  • 12 year adjourned undertaking to be of good behaviour, without conviction
  • $1,000 fine
  • Restitution of $26,177
17 Aug 2023 Client AF Frankston Magistrates' Court Windisch
  • Plea of Guilty
  • 12 month Community Corrections Order, with conviction
  • 100 hours of unpaid community work, supervision, treatment/rehab, mental health assessment
  • Restitution of $77,734.81
02 Aug 2023 Client AE Geelong Magistrates' Court Holzer
  • Plea of Not Guilty
  • Total  fines of $14,000
  • Restitution of $8,298.98
  • Professional costs of $2,440
10 Jul 2023 Client AD Geelong Magistrates' Court Guthrie
  • Plea of Guilty
  • 2 year Community Corrections Order, with conviction
  • 300 hours of unpaid community work
  • Restitution of $70,778.39
  • Professional costs of $5,932
07 Jul 2023 Client AC Bacchus Marsh Magistrates' Court Doherty
  • Plea of Guilty
  • 12 month Community Corrections Order, without  conviction
  • 200 hours of unpaid community work
  • Restitution of $71,573.92
  • Professional costs of $2,057
03 May 2023 Client AB Dandenong Magistrates' Court Ong
  • Plea of Guilty
  • $2,000 fine, without conviction
  • Restitution of $63,374
  • Professional costs of $2,799
24 Apr 2023 Client AA Melbourne Magistrates' Court Hartnett
  • Plea of Guilty
  • Fine of $2,500
  • Restitution of $34,255.38
14 Apr 2023 Client N (Appeal) Melbourne County Court - Appeal against conviction Rozen
  • Plea of Guilty
  • 12 month Community Corrections Order, without conviction, the accused to perform 200 hours of unpaid work
  • Restitution of $87,451.25
  • Professional Costs of $1,986
05 Apr 2023 Client Z Ringwood Magistrates' Court Foster
  • Plea of Guilty
  • The Magistrate found the charge proven but dismissed the matter without imposing a penalty.
05 Apr 2023 Client Y Moorabbin Justice Centre McCallum
  • Plea of Guilty
  • Good Behaviour Bond with conviction
  • Donation to Amber Community of $1,000
  • Complete a Mental Heath Program
  • Restitution of $9,848.71
  • Professional costs of $1,161
31 Mar 2023 Client X Bacchus Marsh Magistrates’ Court Radford
  • Plea of Guilty
  • Community Corrections Order (120 hours unpaid work), with conviction
  • Restitution of $40,766.05
28 Feb 2023 Client W Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court Kumar
  • Plea of Guilty
  • Fine of $7,500 with conviction
  • Restitution of $28,119.92
  • Professional costs of $1,424
03 Feb 2023 Client V Frankston Magistrates’ Court Tan
  • Plea of Guilty
  • Fine of $1,500
10 Jan 2023 Client U Kyneton Magistrates’ Court Kelly
  • Plea of Guilty
  • Adjourned Undertaking to be of good behaviour for two years, without conviction
  • Restitution of $10,706.23
  • Professional costs of $1,085
13 Dec 2022 Client T Online Magistrates’ Court McKenna
  • Plea of Guilty
  • Fine of $10,000 without conviction
  • Restitution of $24,123.04
  • Professional costs of $1,423
12 Dec 2022 Client S Dandenong Magistrates’ Court Connellan
  • Plea of Guilty
  • 12 month Community Corrections Order, with condition to perform 100 hours of unpaid work and a treatment and rehabilitation program for mental health, with conviction
  • Restitution of $48,517
  • Professional costs of $1,600
29 Nov 2022 Client R Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court Langton
  • Guilty
  • 12  month Community Corrections order with condition to perform 150 hours of unpaid work only, with conviction
  • Restitution of $49,125.78
  • Professional costs of $1,423
24 Nov 2022 Client Q Ringwood Magistrates’ Court Bate
  • Guilty
  • Fine of $1,000 without conviction
  • Restitution of $165.80
14 Nov 2022 Client P Sunshine Magistrates’ Court Thomas
  • Plea of Guilty
  • 12 month community Corrections Order, with conviction, with conditions to perform 100 hours of unpaid community work, undergo treatment programs for alcohol and drug addiction and undergo programs for mental health treatment.
  • Restitution of $36,212.62
09 Nov 2022 Client O Ringwood Magistrates’ Court Grigor
  • Plea of Guilty
  • 12 month Community Corrections Order, with condition to perform 100 hours of unpaid work, without conviction
  • Restitution of $39,951.75
28 Oct 2022 Client N Sunshine Magistrates’ Court Capel
  • Plea of Guilty
  • 12 month Community Corrections Order, with conviction, the accused to perform 200 hours of unpaid work
  • Restitution of $87,451.25
  • Professional Costs of $1,986
19 Oct 2022 Client M Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court Masood
  • Plea of Guilty
  • Adjourned undertaking, without conviction, with conditions to make a donation of $450 to the Court Fund and be of good behaviour for a period of 12 months
  • Professional Costs of $3,942
07 Oct 2022 Client L Online Magistrates’ Court Reardon
  • Plea of Not Guilty
  • Found guilty, with Conviction
  • Fine of $30,000
  • Restitution of $133,178.35
  • Professional Costs of $15,000
09 Aug 2022 Client K Ringwood Magistrates’ Court Boult
  • Plea of Guilty
  • Fine of $2,000
  • Restitution of $36,484
  • Professional Costs of $1,405
  • Without Conviction
02 Aug 2022 Client I Geelong Magistrates’ Court Bentley
  • Plea of Guilty
  • 12 month community Corrections Order with the accused to perform 120 hours of unpaid work,
  • Restitution of $47,366
  • Professional Costs of $2,249
  • With Conviction
01 Aug 2022 Client J Werribee Magistrates’ Court Swasadir
  • Plea of Guilty
  • 12 month Good Behaviour Bond undertaking, which included the conditions that the accused donate $1,000 to Amber Community
  • Donation of $1,000
  • Professional Costs of $1,161
  • Without Conviction
18 Jul 2022 Client H Online Magistrates’ Court Bate
  • Plea of Guilty
  • Adjourned undertaking, with conditions to engage in treatment, to be of good behaviour for 2 years, and to make a donation of $5,000 to the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
  • Restitution of $28,838.77
  • Professional costs of $1,405
  • Without Conviction
08 Jul 2022 Client F Sunshine Magistrates’ Court Robertson
  • Plea of Guilty
  • 3 months imprisonment
  • Restitution of $29,947.97
  • With Conviction
16 Jun 2022 Client E Dandenong Magistrates’ Court Connellan
  • Plea of Guilty
  • Fine of $2,000
  • Restitution of $10,000
  • Without Conviction
10 Jun 2022 Client D Geelong Magistrates’ Court Bentley
  • Plea of Guilty
  • With Conviction
  • Fine of $1,500
  • Restitution of $20,428.24
30 May 2022 Client C La Trobe Valley Magistrates’ Court Duffy
  • Plea of Guilty
  • With Conviction
  • 18 month Community Corrections Order that the accused be supervised for the duration of the order and undergo assessment and treatment for drug dependency and mental health issues
  • Restitution of $43,996.32
16 May 2022 Client B Sunshine Magistrates’ Court Capel
  • Plea of Guilty
  • With Conviction
  • Restitution of $12,798.96
  • Total Fines $1,000
  • Professional Costs: $ 1,145
19 Apr 2022 Abdul B Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court Fitzgerald
  • Plea of guilty
  • With conviction
  • 18 month Community Corrections Order with conditions that the accused undertake 75 hours of unpaid community work, including 25 hours towards treatment
  • Restitution of $31,897.07
  • Professional costs of $1,405
04 Apr 2022 Olivia A Geelong Magistrates’ Court Mellas
  • Plea of Guilty
  • 12 month Community Corrections Order (with conviction) to undertake 150 hours of community service
  • Ordered to repay the sum of $56,128.54
09 Feb 2022 Mahmood S Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court Pilai
  • Plea of Guilty
  • With Conviction
  • Fine of $5,000
  • Restitution of $26,619.94
  • Professional Costs of $1,405
01 Feb 2022 Client A Sunshine Magistrates’ Court Smith
  • Plea of Guilty
  • With Conviction
  • 12 month Community Corrections Order with conditions that the accused undertake 150 hours of unpaid community work.
  • Restitution of $82,242.37
11 Jan 2022 Vicki L Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court Stuthridge
  • Plea of guilty
  • Fine of $2,000
  • Without conviction
  • Restitution of $29,923.66
  • Professional costs of $1,405
19 Dec 2021 Tanveer K Sunshine Magistrates’ Court Masood
  • Plea of Guilty
  • Adjourned undertaking for 12 months, with $400 to be paid to the Court Fund
  • Without Conviction
  • Restitution of $21,069.88  
    ($450 had been re-paid prior to the hearing)
  • Professional Costs of $1,125
22 Nov 2021 Pati T Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court (via Webex) Warda
  • Plea of Guilty
  • Finding of guilt
  • Fine of $5,000
07 Oct 2021 Ali N Werribee Online Magistrates' Court Wardell
  • Plea of Guilty
  • Finding of guilt
  • Restitution of $7,680.87
  • Fine of $5,000
  • Professional costs of $1,145.
01 Oct 2021 Jesse H Ringwood Online Magistrates' Court Wighton
  • Plea of Guilty
  • With Conviction
  • Restitution of $46,023.64
  • Fine of $3,000
15 Sep 2021 Blaze M Heidelberg Online Magistrates' Court Altman
  • Plea of Guilty
  • With Conviction
  • Restitution of $84,771.20 repaid by client prior to the hearing
  • Fine of $5,000
  • Professional Costs of $1,986
10 Sep 2021 Harrison L Melbourne Magistrates' Court McKenna
  • Plea of Guilty
  • With Conviction
  • Restitution of $94,811.01
  • Professional Costs of $1,986
  • 18 month Community Corrections Order with condition that the accused undertake 200 hours of unpaid community work and undergo a mental health assessment and treatment.
20 Aug 2021 Colin M Sunshine Magistrates' Court (online) Masood
  • Plea of guilty
  • Finding of guilt
  • Fine of $400.
07 Jul 2021 Matthew W Geelong Magistrates' Court Mellas
  • Plea of guilty
  • With conviction
  • Restitution of $10,808.72.  
    $6,500 was paid prior to hearing with $4,308.72 still to be repaid to the TAC
  • Fine of $4,000
  • Professional costs of $1,125.
01 Jul 2021 Robert E Werribee Magistrates' Court sitting at Sunshine Pithouse
  • Plea of guilty
  • With conviction
  • Restitution of $10,127.19 to the TAC
  • Fine of $1,000
  • Professional costs of $2,190.
28 Jun 2021 Melody S Wangaratta Magistrates' Court Online Martin
  • Plea of guilty
  • With conviction
  • 12 month Community corrections Order with conditions that the accused perform 160 hours of unpaid work; undergo assessment and treatment for mental health issues; undergo programs to prevent re-offending and be supervised by the Office of Corrections
  • Restitution of $43,859.40 to the TAC
28 Jun 2021 Iman B Heidelberg Magistrates' Court Online NcNamara
  • Plea of guilty
  • Finding of guilt
  • Accused repaid fraud amount of $17,275.25 to the TAC prior to the hearing
  • Fine of $2,000
  • Professional Costs of $1,125.
22 Jun 2021 Trash H Mildura Magistrates' Court La Rosa
  • Plea of Guilty
  • With conviction
  • 2 year Community Corrections Order with conditions that the accused is supervised by the Office of Corrections; undergo assessment and treatment for mental health issues and perform 50 hours of unpaid community wor
  • Restitution of $15,000
  • Fine of $3,000.
22 Apr 2021 Jonathan H Dandenong Online Magistrates' Court Connellan
  • Plea of Guilty
  • Finding of Guilt
  • $4,441.87 repaid to the TAC prior to plea of guilty
  • Fine of $3,000
  • Statutory Costs of $127
  • Professional Costs of $783.
12 Apr 2021 Semon L Broadmeadows Online Magistrates' Court Trumble
  • Plea of Guilty
  • Finding of Guilt
  • Restitution of $11,118.34
  • Professional Costs of $500
  • Good Behaviour Bond of 18 months
  • Donation of $350 to Red Cross by 1/12/2021.
22 Mar 2021 Lacey B Wangaratta Online Magistrates' Court Faram
  • Plea of guilty
  • Finding of guilt
  • Restitution of $7,327.32
  • Professional costs of $1,000
  • Fine of $1.000
  • A stay to 19/06/2021 was also ordered to allow the accused to commence a repayment plan with the TAC.
23 Feb 2021 Jasit A Sunshine Magistrates' Court Masood
  • Plea of guilty
  • With conviction
  • Restitution of $28,080.09
  • Professional costs $1,244.26
  • 18 Month Community Corrections Order to perform 250 hours of unpaid work.
16 Feb 2021 Navpreet S Sunshine Online Magistrates' Court Robinson
  • Plea of guilty
  • With conviction
  • Restitution of $16,018
  • Fine of $5,000
  • Professional costs $1,125.
01 Feb 2021 Reece H Hume Online Magistrates' Court Dunn
  • Plea of guilty
  • With conviction
  • Restitution of $25,978.40
  • 18 month Community Corrections Order with conditions that the accused be under the supervision of the Office of Corrections, perform 100 hours of unpaid community work, undergo assessment and treatment for drug issues and undertake offender rehabilitation programs.
18 Dec 2020 Ali A OMC Broadmeadows Magistrates' Court Smith
  • Plea of guilty
  • With conviction
  • Restitution of $26,243.85
  • Fine of $5,000
  • Professional costs of $1,320
14 Dec 2020 Cameron K OMC Werribee Magistrates' Court Pitthouse
  • Plea of guilty
  • With conviction
  • Restitution of $44,482.91
  • Fine of $10,000
  • Professional costs of $500
04 Dec 2020 Khushminder P OMC Heidelberg Magistrates' Court McNamara
  • Plea of guilty
  • Without conviction
  • $20,335 repaid to the TAC prior to the matter being heard
  • Fine of $1,000
  • Professional costs of $1,320
22 Oct 2020 Craig S Heidelberg Magistrates' Court Ballek
  • Plea of Guilty
  • With conviction
  • Restitution of $28,731.50
  • 12 month Community Corrections Order with one condition that the accused undertake 100 hours of unpaid community work
08 Oct 2020 Elizabeth E Frankston Magistrates' Court Lethbridge
  • Plea of Guilty
  • With Conviction
  • Restitution of $14,377.59
  • Fine of $4,000
  • Professional Costs of $500
17 Sep 2020 Abdul M Frankston Magistrates' Court Lethbridge
  • Plea of Guilty
  • With Conviction
  • 4 year Good Behaviour Bond with strict conditions that the accused repay all monies owed to the TAC within the four year period.
12 May 2020 Magdalena M Dandenong Magistrates' Court Connellan
  • Plea of Guilty
  • With Conviction
  • 12 month Community Corrections Order, perform 160 hours of unpaid work, be under the supervision of the office of corrections, and undergo assessment and treatment for offending behaviours
  • Restitution of $103,570.23
05 May 2020 Mitchell L Bendigo Magistrates' Court McRae
  • Plea of Guilty
  • With Conviction
  • 18 month Community Corrections Order, to perform 300 hours of unpaid work, be supervised by the office of corrections and to undergo treatment for mental health issues
  • Restitution of $25,035.85 was repaid to TAC prior to sentencing
16 Mar 2020 Brooke L Wodonga Magistrates' Court Dunn
  • Plea of guilty
  • Finding of guilt
  • Restitution of $3,406.50
  • 12 month Community Corrections Order, undertake 50 hours of unpaid work & undergo assessment and treatment for mental health issues
19 Dec 2019 George M Frankston Magistrates' Court Gattuso
  • Plea of guilty
  • Finding of guilt
  • Restitution of $31,933.44
  • 12 month Community Corrections Order must perform 150 hours of unpaid work
19 Dec 2019 Fouzia M Frankston Magistrates' Court Gattuso
  • Plea of guilty
  • With conviction
  • Restitution of $52,756.20
  • 18 month Community Corrections Order must perform 200 hours of unpaid work
19 Dec 2019 Mustafa Y Frankston Magistrates' Court Gattuso
  • Plea of guilty
  • With conviction
  • Restitution of $52,756.20
  • 18 month Community Corrections Order must perform 200 hours of unpaid work
04 Dec 2019 Vikwesh S Heidelberg Magistrates' Court Ballek
  • Plea of guilty
  • Finding of guilt
  • Restitution of $3,900 to be repaid on a repayment plan of $400 per month commencing on 4/1/2020
  • Fine of $500
04 Dec 2019 Seyed G Heidelberg Magistrates' Court Ballek
  • Plea of guilty
  • With conviction
  • Restitution of $80,360
  • 12 month Community Corrections Order must perform 120 hours of unpaid work
29 Nov 2019 Paul D Ringwood Magistrates' Court Wighton
  • Plea of guilty
  • With Conviction
  • Restitution of $25,628.82
  • Community Corrections Order with conditions that he performs 120 hours of unpaid work and undergo assessment and treatment for mental health issues
21 Nov 2019 Nicholas I Ringwood Magistrates' Court Starvaggi
  • Plea of guilty
  • With Conviction
  • Restitution of $18,067
  • Fine of $2,500
  • Professional Costs of $500
14 Nov 2019 Amy P Seymour Magistrates' Court Cottrill
  • Guilty
  • With conviction
  • Restitution of $8,529.12
  • Fine of $1,750