A 26-year-old Warwick man has been charged with numerous fraud offences after police shut down what they allege is a "cash for demerit points" scheme involving hundreds of falsely nominated tickets.
Police will allege the man advertised on social media that he would take fines and demerit points for people in exchange for money.
Once contacted by a "customer", it is alleged the man would nominate himself as being the driver for the offence and after receiving the ticket, he would then allegedly sign the ticket over to an unsuspecting third party who was the victim of identity theft.
He has been charged with one count of carrying on the business of fraud, attempting to pervert the course of justice, and three counts of obtaining identification information.
The man was arrested in Warwick on August 8 has been granted bail to reappear in Warwick Magistrates Court on October 23.
Acting Chief Superintendent Janelle Andrews of the Road Policing Group said the operation, code named Blot, had been run jointly by officers from Road Policing Investigations Unit and detectives from the Cybercrime Unit.
"Inquiries were commenced after one of the alleged victims of crime contacted police regarding $20,000 worth of fines he had received," Acting Chief Superintendent Andrews said.
"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."
Detective Superintendent Craig McGrath, Commander of the Financial and Cyber Crime Group emphasised police take this offending very seriously and advised any person conducting or participating in these schemes will be detected and prosecuted.
"The Cybercrime Unit continue to investigate and disrupt serious and organised online offending," he said.
"This individual is alleged to have financially profited from an online criminal enterprise unlawfully assisting drivers to circumvent the licence demerit point process. 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," said Detective Superintendent McGrath.
Acting Chief Superintendent Andrews said that a significant portion of people who have sought out the "services" of the alleged offender are young, inexperienced drivers who should have had their licences suspended but instead, are 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."
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting or call 131 444.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.
