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

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 emailing Fraud_Compliance@tac.vic.gov.au or by calling 1800 332 556.

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:

Prevention, Detecting and Investigating Fraud 2017/18

The TAC continues to focus on enhancing its toolkit of analytical methods and intelligence reporting techniques in order to identify known and unknown behaviours indicative of potential fraud or claim anomalies. The ongoing development and refinement of this capability is crucial in ensuring effective support of strategic business change through proactively identifying, preventing and investigating potential fraud and other inappropriate payments in a timely manner.

When endeavouring to reduce fraud and change client /provider behaviour across the scheme the following enforcement action was taken during 2017/18.

There were 13 prosecutions finalised through the Magistrates Court. In all cases the TAC client registered a guilty plea. A total of $216,000 in restitution was awarded to the TAC. Seventeen (17) matters are currently before the courts at various stages where TAC is alleging fraud against the scheme totalling $401,099. Cases that haven’t met the prosecution threshold are dealt with through TAC’s principal means of achieving prompt voluntary compliance sending fifty one (51) warning letters for breaches of the Act relating to fraud and providing false information to the TAC by clients, Medical and Service Providers incorporating demands for reimbursement. The Forensics Group continue to be ambitious, leading industries best practice to combat fraud and corruption. Significant effort and drive into the Australian & New Zealand Interagency Fraud Association (ANZIFA) attended by various state and federal agency across Australia and New Zealand. The association’s purpose is to foster a proactive community, committed to minimising the impact of fraud, waste and abuse.

Provider Review

During 2017/18 the Forensics Group continued its focus on ensuring payments made to medical and health practitioners and other service providers were appropriate and complied with the Transport Accident Act and relevant TAC policies and fee schedules. A number of new analytical products and techniques were created and utilised to detect inappropriate payments throughout the year. Reviews were completed on over 5,610 payments made to 2099 providers across a wide range of different disciplines. Over $459,000 was reimbursed to the TAC for payments received by providers that they were not entitled to..

Prosecutions

Date	Defendant	Court	Judge/ Magistrate	Result
23 Oct 2019	Viney K	Broadmeadows Magistrates' Court	Trumble	Plea of guilty Finding of guilt Restitution of $8,191.30 18 month Good Behaviour Bond
21 Oct 2019	Luke A	Broadmeadows Magistrates' Court	Hoare	Plea of guilty With conviction Restitution of $30,950.25 Fine of $3,000
03 Oct 2019	Alexandria M	Sunshine Magistrates' Court	Pitthouse	Plea of guilty With conviction Restitution of $7,995 12 month Community Corrections Order during which the accused is to perform 200 hours of unpaid work
03 Oct 2019	Chethuri H	Dandenong Magistrates' Court	McRae	Plea of guilty Finding of guilt Restitution of $15,114.20 ($3,000 had already been repaid by the accused) 12 Month Good Behaviour Bond with a condition that the accused make a donation of $500 to the Road Trauma Awareness Services $500 in costs
04 Sep 2019	Stephen W	Shepparton Magistrates' Court	Mithen	Plea of guilty Conviction Restitution of $53,238.71 Professional costs of $500 12 month Community Corrections Order with the following conditions, (1) Supervision by the Office of Corrections for the duration of the order. (2) Must perform 100 hours of unpaid community work.
02 Sep 2019	Ashley C	Latrobe Magistrates' Court	Studham	Plea of guilty Conviction Restitution of $112,054 18 month Community Corrections Order with the following conditions, (1) Supervision by the Office of Corrections. (2) Must undergo Mental Health Treatment and programs, and (3) Must perform 250 hours of unpaid community work.
15 Aug 2019	Tobias S	Frankston Magistrates' Court	Gattuso	Plea of guilty Conviction Fine of $4,000 Client repaid the fraud amount of $24,758 prior to sentencing.
18 Jul 2019	Viorel F	Dandenong Magistrates' Court	Bolster	Plea of guilty Finding of guilt Fine of $2,000
16 Jul 2019	Tina K	Broadmeadows Magistrates' Court	Hoare	Plea of guilty Conviction Fine of $3,000 Restitution of $42,289.46
11 Jul 2019	Cameron F	Geelong Magistrates' Court	Lesser	Plea of guilty Conviction Imprisonment of 92 days (3 months) with a period of 92 days reckoned as served 12 Community Corrections Order with condition that the accused perform 120 hours of unpaid work in that period Restitution of $118,885.02 Professional costs of $500
27 Jun 2019	John S	Ballarat Magistrates' Court	Saines	Plea of guilty Conviction 6 month custodial sentence Professional costs of $1,000
06 Jun 2019	Corina F	Dandenong Magistrates' Court	Spencer	Plea of guilty Finding of guilt Fine of $4,000 Restitution of $17,640 Professional costs of $500
06 Jun 2019	Simone S	Dandenong Magistrates' Court	Spencer	Plea of guilty Finding of guilt 12 Month Community Corrections Order Perform 200 hours of unpaid community work Restitution of $11,853
05 Jun 2019	Peter D	Melbourne Magistrates' Court	Fitzgerald	Plea of guilty With conviction 24 Month Community Corrections Order Perform 240 hours of unpaid community work Undergo treatment for drug addiction Restitution to the TAC of $24,286.12
03 Jun 2019	Alexander B	Heidelberg Magistrates' Court	Ballek	Plea of guilty With conviction 12 Month Community Corrections Order Perform 200 hours of unpaid work Undergo assessment and treatment for drug and mental health issues Restitution to the TAC of $14,814.72 Professional costs of $500
09 Apr 2019	Emidio M	Geelong Magistrates' Court	Coghlan	Plea of guilty With a finding of guilt Fine of $2,000 Professional costs of $500
29 Mar 2019	Rebecca W	Ballarat Magistrates' Court	Jones	Plea of guilty With a finding of guilt 12 Community Corrections Order – to complete 150 hours of community service Professional Costs of $500 Restitution of $19,530.07 ($21,400 was paid prior to the plea)
25 Mar 2019	Ricky B	Shepparton Magistrates' Court	Farram	Plea of guilty With conviction Fine of $2,500 Restitution of $36,214.14 - Stay to 22/09/2019 was granted
29 Jan 2019	Mohamed N	Heidelberg Magistrates' Court	Warda	Plea of guilty With conviction 18 month Community Corrections Order and to undergo a mental health assessment and subsequent treatment as part of the order Restitution of $29,143.68 Costs of $500
08 Jan 2019	Adrian K	Geelong Magistrates' Court	Raleigh	Plea of guilty With conviction 12 Month Community Corrections Order Restitution of $51,654
20 Dec 2018	Leon J	Melbourne Magistrates' Court	Bott	Plea of guilty With conviction 13 Month Community Corrections Order $116,611 repaid to TAC prior to the matter being heard
12 Dec 2018	Raymond R	Bendigo Magistrates' Court	Southey	Plea of not guilty With conviction Restitution of $10,710 Costs of $2,581 Fine of $5,000
29 Nov 2018	Brendan B	Sunshine Magistrates' Court	Burns	Plea of guilty With conviction Restitution of $25,835.37 Costs of $500 12 Month Community Corrections Order with condition that 100 hours of unpaid work be performed
15 Nov 2018	Emily G	Ringwood Magistrates' Court	Bolster	Plea of guilty With a finding of guilt Restitution of $11,065.20 Fine of $2,000 Legal costs of $500
01 Nov 2018	Joel S	Dandenong Magistrates' Court	McCrae	Plea of guilty With conviction 150 hours of unpaid community work 12 month Community Correction Order - to undergo a mental health assessment and treatment as part of this order Restitution of $31,700.55.
17 Oct 2018	Lovnish M	Broadmeadows Magistrates' Court	Grinberg	Plea of guilty With a finding of guilt 12 Month good behaviour bond $1,000 donation to the Court Fund During the plea in mitigation the accused made representation that he was willing to repay all monies owed to the TAC immediately. The accused repaid the full amount owed to the TAC being $5,262.50 and $500 in TAC costs prior to sentencing by the magistrate.
18 Sep 2018	Andrew T	Moorabbin Justice Centre	Barrett	Plea of guilty With conviction Restitution of $55,559.06 Fine of $5,000 12 Month Community Corrections Order with conditions: The conditions of the order were that the accused perform 150 hours of unpaid community work, undergo mental health assessment and treatment and undergo programs to reduce the chances of re-offending.
05 Sep 2018	Douglas G	Dandenong Magistrates’ Court	Bazzani	Plea of not guilty With a finding of guilt Restitution of $97,802.27 Fine of $5,000 Accused lodged an appeal against the decision and sentence.
16 Aug 2018	Sophea M	Dandenong Magistrates’ Court	Wardell	Plea of guilty With conviction Restitution of $88,062 12 Month Community Corrections Order with conditions: The conditions of the order were that the accused be under the supervision of the Office of Correction for the duration of the order, that the accused undergo drug assessment and treatment and undergo assessment and treatment for mental health issues.
28 Jun 2018	Abu A	Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court	Grinberg	Plea of guilty With a finding of guilt Restitution of $38,643.60 200 hours of unpaid community work and treatment and rehabilitation as part of a 12 month Community Correction Order
25 Jun 2018	Victoria U	Werribee Magistrates’ Court	Burns	Plea of guilty With conviction 150 hours of unpaid community work as part of a Community Corrections Order Restitution of $20,114
16 Apr 2018	Karlie C	Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court	Burchill	Plea of guilty With a finding of guilt 2 Year good behaviour bond Restitution of $15,140.54 Professional costs of $500
03 Apr 2018	Ljupce K	Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court	O'Callaghan	Plea of guilty With a finding of guilt Fine of $300
21 Mar 2018	Muhammad Y	Melbourne County Court	Higham	The appeal was heard on 21/03/2018 and His Honour Judge Higham at the Melbourne County Court on the two charges as previously appealed to a 12 month Community Corrections Order, with conditions that the accused be under the supervision of the Office of Corrections for the entire time and that the accused perform 100 hours of unpaid community work. The judge also ordered that the accused pay the TAC compensation in the amount of $44,529.98
15 Feb 2018	Lazar K	Ringwood Magistrates’ Court	McNamara	Plea of guilty With conviction Restitution of $5,907.50 Fine of $2,000 Costs of $500
06 Feb 2018	Peter B	Werribee Magistrates’ Court	Burns	Plea of guilty With a finding of guilt Restitution of $6,384.52 Fine of $750 Costs of $500
15 Dec 2017	Muhammad Y	Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court	Fallah	Plea of guilty Aggregate term of 2 months imprisonment to be served immediately Restitution of $44,529.98 Costs of $550.00
07 Dec 2017	Marcus F	Melbourne Magistrates’ Court	Bourke	Plea of guilty With a finding of guilt Fine of $1,800 Costs of $500
01 Nov 2017	Anthony L	Neighbourhood Justice Centre Collingwood		Plea of guilty Sentenced with a finding of guilt Placed on 12 month good behaviour bond Need to repay $4,615.51
27 Sep 2017	Catherine P	Assessment & Referral Court at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court	Collins	Plea of guilty With a finding of guilt 12 month good behaviour bond with condition to seek treatment as directed by the court
31 Aug 2017	Ekrem K	Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court	Grinberg	Plea of guilty With a finding of guilt Restitution of $34,014 Fine of $12,000 Professional costs of $500
17 Aug 2017	Phillip S	Ringwood Magistrates’ Court	Sargent	Plea of guilty With conviction Restitution of $13,500 Fine of $1,000 Professional costs of $500 Court costs of $119.90
17 Jul 2017	Alex N	Melbourne Magistrates’ Court	Holzer	Plea of guilty With conviction Fine of $3,000 3 months imprisonment wholly suspended for 2 years Restitution of $33,154.10 Professional costs $500.00
28 Jun 2017	Mark P	Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court	Alger	Plea of guilty With conviction Fine of $3,000 Restitution of $29,987 Professional costs $500.00 Stay for payment of fine to 21/12/2017
02 Jun 2017	Agostino V	Sunshine Magistrates’ Court	Pitthouse	Plea of guilty Charge 1: Conviction and sentenced to 3 months imprisonment wholly suspended for 2 years Charge 2: Conviction and fine of $5,000 Restitution of $54,636.89 Professional costs $500.00
27 Apr 2017	Molood M	Dandenong Magistrates’ Court	Connellan	Plea of guilty With a finding of guilt Restitution of $22,774.93 Professional costs of $500.00 Fine of $1,200.00
05 Apr 2017	Jade S	Sunshine Magistrates’ Court	Fitzgerald	With conviction Restitution of $3,000 with a stay of 3 months to pay the Restitution 12 Community Correction Order to perform 50 hours of unpaid community work
16 Mar 2017	Paul H	Geelong Magistrates’ Court	Coghlan	Plea of guilty With conviction Sentence 4 months imprisonment Restitution of $34,989.67 Statutory costs of $119.90 Professional costs of $500 Appeal Hearing date 4 April 2017 at Geelong Country Court: Her Honour Judge Campton suspended the sentence for 12 months. Her Honour identified that the accused had no significant priors, the plea of guilty and the amount involved compared with other cases warranted that the sentence be suspended rather than an immediate term to serve.

Fraud and compliance

How to make a report

Fraud and the TAC

Actions that may be taken by the TAC

TAC billing review program

Prevention, Detecting and Investigating Fraud 2017/18

Provider Review

Prosecutions

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Fraud and compliance

How to make a report

Fraud and the TAC

Actions that may be taken by the TAC

TAC billing review program

Prevention, Detecting and Investigating Fraud 2017/18

Provider Review

Prosecutions

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