WA woman charged with superannuation fraud

A 34-year-old Perth woman has been charged by federal authorities after allegedly submitting false financial hardship claims to gain early access to superannuation savings.

Police say the High Wycombe woman submitted multiple bogus claims on behalf of other people to access payments of up to $10,000 each.

After receiving a payment from her own superannuation account, she then transferred the remaining balance into another fund and made another hardship application, Federal Police say.

They raided her home on Friday and seized documents, cash, ink-based business identification and certification stamps, and electronic devices.

The total number and value of the alleged fraudulent claims is still being assessed.

She is the fourth person to be charged by anti-fraud Taskforce Iris and is expected to face Perth Magistrates Court next month.

The hardship provision pre-dates the temporary support measures introduced by the federal government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.