NDIS recipient allegedly defrauds scheme out of $700,000

A Victorian man has been arrested after allegedly defrauding the National Disability Insurance Scheme out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The man, who is on the NDIS, is alleged to have defrauded the scheme of $700,000 over a two-year period between June 28, 2024 and June 30, 2026.

Police allege the man created two businesses for the purpose of defrauding the system, submitted false invoices for services he claimed to receive and distributed the funds into his own bank accounts.

Detectives also allege the man had dealt with property suspected of being the proceeds of crime .

On Wednesday police executed a search warrant at a home in Horsham, and a 48-year-old man was taken into custody.

He has yet to be charged and will be interviewed in relation to the incidents, police said.

A spokesperson for the NDIS said the vast majority of NDIS participants and providers “do the right thing and use scheme funding appropriately”.

“We will continue to use intelligence, data analytics and joint investigations to identify, detect and disrupt fraud, so NDIS funding is protected for the Australians who rely on it,” they said.

Detective Sergeant Mark James said police will identify and hold to account anyone who seeks to profit through dishonest NDIS claims.

“Our team worked extensively on this investigation to stop this person from allegedly defrauding a scheme designed to support some of the most vulnerable members of our community for his own financial gain,” James said.