Police are warning the public to be aware of people who seek to defraud vulnerable members of the Illawarra community by forging will and estate documents.
Earlier in 2024, officers attached to Wollongong Police District received reports of allegedly forged will documents; with inquiries continuing.
Police would like to remind the public, particularly elderly members and their families, to take precautions to reduce the risk of will and executor fraud.
Will fraud can occur when misleading or deceptive conduct is used when preparing a will.
Executor fraud can occur when an executor – who is a person appointed to administer an estate - uses deceitful practices to gain estate assets for themselves or for someone who is not the rightful beneficiary.
There are a variety of ways fraudulent activity may occur during the preparation or execution of a will, including where false, fabricated or misleading statements are created or used to give a person who is not the rightful beneficiary a financial benefit.
Other examples of estate fraud include:
- a person signing a will that was a different document then they intended to sign,
- a person signing a will when they limited mental capacity, and
- an executor could pay themselves advances or unreasonable expenses from the estate.
If you believe you or a family member has been a victim of will or executor fraud, you can report it to local police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
