Australia crackdown on visa fraud seizes more than $580,000; man jailed for submitting false immigration documents

Australian authorities have seized more than $580,000 following an investigation into a visa fraud scheme linked to a 61-year-old man from the New South Wales Central Coast.The case focuses on the abuse of Australia’s immigration system, including the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme. Investigators say the man received huge sums of money for helping submit visa applications containing false information to immigration authorities, Australia Today reports.A financial investigation found hundreds of thousands of dollars were transferred through bank accounts linked to the man. Some of the funds were used to purchase other assets, prompting the AFP-led Criminal Asset Confiscation Task Force (CACT) to take action to restrict and seize the funds.Earlier this week, the NSW Supreme Court ordered the forfeiture of $117,000 after the man admitted the money was the proceeds of offenses committed between July 2017 and May 2020. The offenses involved providing false documents to an officer exercising powers under the Immigration Act in connection with an application by a non-citizen seeking to remain in Australia.The latest court order brings the total amount of federal forfeiture to $583,146.44.The man was sentenced to four years in prison in December 2025 and must serve at least two and a half years without the possibility of parole. Forfeited funds will be used to support crime prevention programs, strengthen law enforcement capabilities and fund community initiatives.Since July 2019, the Criminal Asset Forfeiture Task Force has seized more than $1.3 billion worth of criminal assets, including properties, luxury vehicles, art and yachts. AFP said it would continue to crack down on the proceeds of crime to ensure criminals do not benefit financially from illegal conduct.