A Lithgow woman has been charged after allegedly posing as a volunteer firefighter to claim bushfire relief funds of more than $190,000.
Detectives from Chifley Police District initiated inquiries after they say multiple submissions were made between January and June this year, applying for the bushfire volunteer firefighter payment.
Police will allege a 49-year-old woman submitted 522 claims online and was paid for 34 – for a total of more than $190,000.
“Under this scheme, each volunteer could claim up to $6000,” NSW Police said.
“The woman is not – and never has been – a volunteer firefighter.”
Following inquiries, detectives executed a search warrant at a home on Calero Street, Lithgow, shortly after 9am on Wednesday, and arrested the woman at the scene.
Several items – including clothing, electrical items and identification – were also seized.
“The woman was taken to Lithgow Police Station where she has been charged with 34 counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception, and four counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception (attempted).“
She was granted strict conditional bail to appear before Lithgow Local Court on January 28.
