[Australia] Payroll officer jailed for filing 29 fake returns

[Australia] Payroll officer jailed for filing 29 fake returns
22 Nov 2021

A man from New South Wales, Australia, has been jailed after using his job as a payroll officer to file fake income tax returns in the name of 28 different people and pocketing thousands of dollars in fraudulent returns, 7News reports.

According to the Australian Taxation Office, Faisal Hasan Rasel received a four-year sentence for five offences after being prosecuted by the Commonwealth DPP.

Court lists reportedly show that he was sentenced in the NSW District Court in Dubbo in the state’s west on November 16.

The ATO says Mr Rasel filed 29 fake tax returns, fraudulently earning $64,541 from the scheme.

He tried to claim back another $117,824, but those refund payments were stopped by the ATO.

He used the personal details of people that his payroll job allowed him to access in order to make the claims over a three month period in 2015.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Megan Croaker said the sentence demonstrated that the ATO would crack down on people who try to get fraudulent refunds.

“Mr Rasel was in a trusted position, which he exploited for his own gain,” she said.

“This behaviour shows blatant disregard for the law and will not be tolerated.”

Ms Croaker advised that Australians should regularly check their myGov to see if there had been any suspicious activity.

“The effects of identity crime can be devastating.

“We want to make sure your information is safe and your myGov account is only accessed by you,” she said.


Source: 7News

A man from New South Wales, Australia, has been jailed after using his job as a payroll officer to file fake income tax returns in the name of 28 different people and pocketing thousands of dollars in fraudulent returns, 7News reports.

According to the Australian Taxation Office, Faisal Hasan Rasel received a four-year sentence for five offences after being prosecuted by the Commonwealth DPP.

Court lists reportedly show that he was sentenced in the NSW District Court in Dubbo in the state’s west on November 16.

The ATO says Mr Rasel filed 29 fake tax returns, fraudulently earning $64,541 from the scheme.

He tried to claim back another $117,824, but those refund payments were stopped by the ATO.

He used the personal details of people that his payroll job allowed him to access in order to make the claims over a three month period in 2015.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Megan Croaker said the sentence demonstrated that the ATO would crack down on people who try to get fraudulent refunds.

“Mr Rasel was in a trusted position, which he exploited for his own gain,” she said.

“This behaviour shows blatant disregard for the law and will not be tolerated.”

Ms Croaker advised that Australians should regularly check their myGov to see if there had been any suspicious activity.

“The effects of identity crime can be devastating.

“We want to make sure your information is safe and your myGov account is only accessed by you,” she said.


Source: 7News

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