Detectives in the Hunter Region believe they are likely to arrest and charge more people over cases of alleged COVID-19 and bushfire relief grant fraud - possibly as soon as later this week - after so far putting 16 accused con artists before the courts.
And police have been told the money is being spent quickly by alleged fraudsters on things such as drugs, gambling and motorbikes.
Strike Force Roche was set up last April across NSW Police's northern region - from the Hawkesbury River to the Queensland border - after reports of people intentionally inappropriately claiming government grants made available for businesses and individuals affected by last summer's horrific bushfire season and the global pandemic.
Eighty-five charges had been pressed across the lower Hunter and Lake Macquarie police commands as of this week.
Police say each charge represents either a successful fraudulent application or a failed attempt at illegally obtaining grant money.
In the coalfields, three people have been charged with 36 counts between them.
Police allege they obtained a total of more than $300,000 and lodged applications for a further $541,000.
Hunter Valley Police District Detective Inspector Matt Zimmer told the Newcastle Herald on Wednesday investigators anticipated further arrests - possibly as soon as later this week or early next week.
"It is important for us to pursue these individuals because this money has literally been taken from the pockets of struggling families and businesses when they're at their most vulnerable," Detective Inspector Zimmer said.
"It really gets under the skin of the community as well. It's important for us to keep going with it."
Meanwhile, Detective Inspector Steve Benson said 13 people had been charged with 49 counts in the Lake Macquarie area and investigators were looking at eight more suspects with a view to putting them before the courts.
He said many of the people charged were already known to police and similarities between fraudulent forms indicated some were sharing information and tactics.
Detective Inspector Benson said thefts of ABNs meant the legitimate owners of those details faced an added barrier if they decided to legally apply for funding because their information had already been registered.
He said investigators had heard, anecdotally, that the cash was being used on illegal drugs, gambling and dirt bikes.
"There's a very large amount of money they've got their hands on," Detective Inspector Benson said.
"We get told the money goes pretty quickly - they're not hoarding it or putting it on the stock market."
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