An NDIS taskforce has been created to hunt down the theft of billions from disability clients. 

An investigation by Nine newspapers suggestd members of the Hamzy and Alameddine crime groups in Sydney and other organised criminal gangs have been grifting billions of dollars from the National Disability Insurance Scheme. 

Criminal Intelligence Commission head Michael Phelan says criminals have been systematically “ripping off our most vulnerable people”, including creating fake clients, skimming money, exploiting and intimidating clients and using pharmacy employees as “spotters” to find new NDIS targets. 

NDIS Minister Bill Shorten says a multi-agency taskforce will be established to track down fraudsters.

“I think they're literally gutless cowards,” Mr Shorten told reporters. 

“They may think they're tough, some of these organised crime people. They may boast amongst themselves how clever they are.

“The rest of Australia despises this. And what we're going to do is make sure that the NDIS is only for the people who need it.”

Mr Shorten said the invoices of people claiming to have provided services will be reviewed.

“It's a mystery to me why different parts of government don't talk to each other better … I'm not satisfied there is sufficient communication between the National Disability Insurance Agency, the tax office, policing. It shouldn't be this way, but it is,” Mr Shorten said.

“And I don't understand why more hasn't been done earlier.”