Cult in fraud probe

Herald Sun/March 30, 2005
By Jason Frenkel

Members of a doomsday cult with about 100 Victorian followers are under investigation for welfare fraud.

Centrelink confirmed last night it was looking into allegations involving members of William Kamm's Order of St Charbel cult, which has several communes on Victorian country properties.

The allegations relate to 130 cases of suspected welfare fraud. They involve members who were allegedly paid government benefits, such as the single parent payment, to which they were not entitled.

Mr. Kamm, known as The Little Pebble, has a history of predicting the end of the world.

Centrelink national manager Hank Jongen confirmed the agency was looking into the allegations raised on A Current Affair. The Herald Sun was not able to contact Mr. Kamm last night.