Medical receptionist who defrauded Medicare to fund lavish lifestyle, jailed for a year

Co-workers say they wondered about the fancy shoes and Gucci scarves, but never imagined what was going on ‘behind the scenes’
Australian Associated Press

A medical receptionist will spend 12 months behind bars after she stole nearly $200,000 from Medicare because she believed she was not paid enough.

Sarah Ward, 31, made more than 1600 false claims to Medicare, sometimes up to 80 a day, while working at the Melbourne Digestive Centre.

She had told a psychologist she believed she was inadequately paid and wanted to keep up with more affluent friends — being able to buy better clothing for her children and a better car.

Co-workers said they had wondered how she had been able to fund her lavish lifestyle.