Andre Rebelo, a 28-year-old resident of Perth, has admitted to falsifying documents and deceiving family members, police, and insurers about his actions following his mother’s death, though he denies involvement in her passing.
Rebelo is currently on trial for allegedly murdering his mother, Colleen Rebelo, to collect on life insurance policies taken out in her name.
In the ongoing trial, which has now run for over a month, the court heard that Rebelo was carrying significant debt at the time of his mother’s death while supporting a costly lifestyle with his then-girlfriend, Instagram model Gracie Piscopo.
Testifying in his own defence, Rebelo stated he was present at his mother’s Bicton home on the morning of her death, spending approximately 50 minutes, there but claimed to know nothing about the circumstances leading to her passing. Colleen Rebelo’s cause of death has not been determined.
According to ABC’s report, Rebelo admitted in court that he had engaged in insurance fraud by creating false documents and deceiving insurers.
“In broad terms, I lied to the insurance company and forged many documents,” he said in response to questioning from his lawyer, Anthony Elliott.
Rebelo also acknowledged that he lied to the police, to his family – including Gracie – and various employees of the insurance companies.
He previously pleaded guilty to several fraud charges, including forging his mother’s will and creating fraudulent medical records.
He also testified that his mother once expressed concern over her life insurance policy and that she seemed distressed before her death, but he noted that her insurance coverage had lapsed.
Describing his mother as active but managing Hashimoto’s disease, Rebelo stated that he, too, has the autoimmune condition and adheres to a strict regimen of medication and regular health checks.
When asked about his financial situation in 2020, Rebelo reportedly downplayed concerns regarding his credit card debt, stating that he had invested in cryptocurrency and viewed it as a sound investment.
He further explained that Piscopo’s income from social media endorsements and brand partnerships provided additional household support, noting that her growing online presence brought consistent revenue from advertisements and promotional deals.
This trial coincides with increased attention on insurance fraud globally.
The Reinsurance Group of America’s (RGA) 2024 Global Claims Fraud Survey indicated a significant rise in fraudulent activity worldwide, with insurers reporting consistent or increased levels of fraudulent claims.
The survey, which included substantial input from life and health insurance professionals in the Asia-Pacific region, categorised fraud into three types: organised, deliberate, and opportunistic.
The report described organised fraud as involving criminal networks using insurance claims to support other illegal activities. Deliberate fraud typically involves taking out policies with the intent to submit false claims, while opportunistic fraud occurs at either the underwriting or claims stage – often through misrepresenting health information or exaggerating injuries or disabilities.
