Campsie Man Charged Over $390k Insurance Fraud

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A 66-year-old Lakemba man is facing court after police alleged he staged multiple car accidents over a three-year period, securing fraudulent insurance payouts totalling nearly $390,500.

Officers from Campsie Police Area Command launched an investigation in January 2024 following reports of suspicious insurance claims. Detectives uncovered 16 separate collisions between 2019 and 2022, all believed to have been deliberately orchestrated in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney.

According to police, each staged crash followed a similar pattern. Investigators allege fraudulent identities were used to take out compulsory third-party insurance on vehicles. These vehicles would then collide with two parked cars, enabling claims to be lodged with insurance companies.

Over the course of the alleged scheme, 45 vehicles were involved, and a total of $390,480 in insurance payouts was made. Police believe the man was central to coordinating the fraudulent activity.

After more than a year of inquiries, detectives arrested the man at Sydney Airport on Thursday, 3 July 2025. He was taken to Mascot Police Station, where an outstanding warrant was executed.

The accused has been charged with two counts of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception. NSW Police allege that these charges relate to the broader series of staged collisions identified during the investigation.

The man has been granted conditional bail and is scheduled to appear before Bankstown Local Court on Monday, 11 August 2025.

Authorities have confirmed that inquiries into the matter remain ongoing, with further arrests not ruled out. Investigators are reportedly examining whether other individuals may have played a role in the alleged insurance scam.

Police have also urged the public and insurance industry to remain alert to unusual crash patterns and to report any suspicious incidents. NSW Police have previously highlighted that staged collisions can endanger lives, inflate insurance premiums, and place an unnecessary burden on emergency services.

The case will be closely watched in court, given the scale of the alleged fraud and the significant number of vehicles and claims involved.