Fraud - What is fraud?
There are many legal definitions of fraud. Simply, in the legislation fraud is defined as: 'obtaining money or a financial advantage, for yourself, or for another person, through dishonesty or deception.'
This can be as simple as telling a lie to obtain workers compensation benefits.
Fraud does exist in the NSW workers compensation system and this undermines the community's confidence in the system.
Every year, WorkCover's Fraud Investigation Branch investigates numerous reports of suspected fraudulent activity and works closely with Scheme Agents, Self and Specialised Insurers to target and uncover potentially fraudulent matters.
Fraud is committed by employers, injured workers, employees and service providers.
For example:
- Employers sometimes commit fraud against the system by failing to pass on workers compensation benefits to a worker or supplying false and misleading information to obtain a policy.
- Service providers sometimes commit fraud by submitting fraudulent invoices or providing false information in connection with a claim.
- Employees sometimes commit fraud by claiming an injury occurred in the workplace when it actually occurred while playing sport or doing another activity in their own time.
- Injured workers sometimes commit fraud by falsifying medical certificates.
Report suspected fraud to:
Fraud Hotline:
(02) 4321 5755
Email: fraudinvestigation@workcover.nsw.gov.au
Workers Compensation Fraud Referral Form
Publication Number - 811 (PDF format - 41k)
Facsimile: (02) 9287 4365
Mail to: WorkCover
Fraud Investigation Branch
Locked Bag 2906
Lisarow NSW 2252
Note: referrals can be made anonymously.