Greater Bendigo has been revealed as one of Victoria’s worst hotspots for fraud and deception offences.
Data from Victoria’s Crime Statistics Agency has found the Bendigo Local Government Area (LGA) recorded 275 incidents of obtain property by deception in the 2023-24 financial year – the the third-highest number in the state behind Geelong (440) and Yarra Ranges (316).
Ballarat was fourth with 267 deception offences.
Bendigo also recorded 176 forgery and counterfeiting incidents – behind only Hume (185), Brimbank (182) and Casey (177).
The shock figures follow earlier revelations that Bendigo is one of the worst LGAs in the state for methamphetamine trafficking and dealing offences, with 270 arrests over the same period – 58 per cent higher than Melbourne.
The newly released figures suggest municipalities with high populations of middle-income earners are far more likely to be targeted by white collar criminals than wealthier LGAs.
