A 26-year-old Warwick man has been charged with numerous fraud offences after police uncovered an alleged “cash for demerit points” scheme which helped motorists evade $141,000 worth of fines.
Police alleged the man advertised his scheme on social media, saying he would take fines and demerit points for people in exchange for money.
Once contacted by a customer, the man would allegedly nominate himself as the driver for the offence. After receiving the ticket, police alleged he would then sign it over to an unsuspecting third party who would become the victim of identity theft.
Police caught on to the scheme after one alleged victim reported having received $20,000 worth of fines.
“The subsequent investigation uncovered what is alleged to be an illegal business enterprise, operating for at least three years, involving more than 200 camera-detected offence notices worth approximately $141,000 in fines and 695 demerit points,” acting Chief Superintendent Janelle Andrews said.
Acting Chief Superintendent Andrews said a significant portion of people who sought out the “services” of the alleged offender were young, inexperienced drivers who should have had their licences suspended but instead, were still on the road.
“This man has allegedly attempted to undermine the integrity of the road safety system in Queensland by allowing the actual drivers involved in these infringement offences to escape penalty,” she said.
“People may see this sort of thing as a victimless crime, but the demerit point penalty system is in place to ensure that drivers who commit offences on the road are incentivised to improve their driving behaviour.”
Detective Superintendent Craig McGrath, who is also Queensland’s financial cybercrime commander, said police took this offending very seriously and warned anyone found conducting or participating in these schemes will be prosecuted.
“The Cybercrime Unit continue to investigate and disrupt serious and organised online offending,” Detective Superintendent McGrath said.
“This individual is alleged to have financially profited from an online criminal enterprise unlawfully assisting drivers to circumvent the licence demerit point process,” he said.
“The fact that attempts to cheat the system utilised online platforms does not mean anyone involved will escape identification or punishment.
“Engaging in this behaviour online does not grant you anonymity and all efforts will be made by investigators to locate those involved and prosecute them for their part in this criminal scheme.”
The man was arrested in Warwick on 8 August and charged with one count each of business fraud and perversion of justice as well as three counts of obtaining identification information.
He was granted bail and will reappear in Warwick Magistrates Court on 23 October.
