An Australian gym owner faked her death to secure a nearly $500,000 insurance payout, posing as her partner in an elaborate scheme. According to the New York Post, 42-year-old Karen Salkilld was arrested in March after submitting a fraudulent insurance claim in her partner’s name, falsely stating she had died in a car accident. The claim included forged documents such as a death certificate, a Coroner’s Court of Western Australia delegate letter, and an investigation record into a death.
The Post reported that the insurance company transferred $477,520 into a bank account Salkilld had set up in her partner’s name. Over the following days, she made several payments from this account. However, the scheme began to fall apart when Salkilld’s bank flagged and froze the suspicious account.
In a desperate attempt to access the funds, Salkilld went to Palmyra Police Station with several forms of ID certified by an officer. However, since these copies had been altered before being submitted to the bank, they failed the verification process.
When approached by Nine News in a Perth car park, she was asked: “Why did you fake your own death?” Surprised, she responded: “What the hell? Who are you guys? I’m not talking to you guys.”
The reporter continued: “How did you think you could get away with it? You’re charged with serious fraud offences.” Salkilld replied, “Is this a joke?”
Salkilld faces up to seven years in jail for fraudulently gaining a benefit and knowingly using false records with intent to defraud. She is scheduled to be sentenced in Perth District Court next month.