Lake Macquarie woman charged over alleged bushfire assistance fraud

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A woman will face court next month after being charged with alleged bushfire-related fraud offences in Lake Macquarie.

Strike Force Roche was established by several police districts within the Northern Region to investigate alleged fraudulent claims for bushfire disaster relief and small business grants through government agencies.

Following extensive inquiries, police attended a home in Killingworth at about 8.30am today (Wednesday 11 November), where they arrested a 28-year-old woman.

She was taken to Belmont Police Station and charged with one count of dishonestly obtain financial benefit by deception.

Police will allege in court the woman fraudulently obtained a $10,000 grant through a bushfire small business support scheme.

She was granted conditional bail to appear at Toronto Local Court on Tuesday 1 December.

To date, Lake Macquarie detectives have charged five people under Strike Force Roche.

Investigations under the strike force are ongoing across multiple police districts in the Northern Region.