A gym owner faked her own death to claim a nearly $500,000 insurance payout as part of an elaborate scheme where she posed as her own partner.

Karen Sal𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁d, 42, was arrested in March after filing the insurance claim in her partner’s name, falsely saying she had died in a car accident in Broome.

The claim included a series of fabricated documents, such as a death certificate, a Coroner’s Court of Western Australia delegate letter, and an investigation record into a death, all of which were fake.

Karen Sal𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁d, 42, was arrested in March after filing the insurance claim in her partner’s name, falsely saying she had died in a car accident in Broome.WAFL

The insurance company then transferred $477,520.26 into a bank account that Ms Sal𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁d had set up in her partner’s name.

There is no suggestion her partner was involved in the crime.

The plot began to unravel when the fitness instructor’s bank flagged and subsequently froze the suspicious account.

The plot began to unravel when the fitness instructor’s bank flagged and subsequently froze the suspicious account that now had $477,520.26.9 News

In a desperate bid to access the funds, Ms Sal𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁d visited Palmyra Police Station with several forms of ID that had been certified by an officer in an unsuccessful attempt to unfreeze the account.

Approached by Nine News in a car park in Perth, she was asked: “Why did you fake your own death?”

Startled, she then replied: “What the hell? Who are you guys? I’m not talking to you guys.”

When approached by a news channel, Sal𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁d said, “what the hell? Who are you guys? I’m not talking to you guys.”9 News

The reporter went on: “How did you think you could get away with it? You’re charged with serious fraud offenses.”

Ms Sal𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁d then responded, “Is this a joke?”.

The former East Fremantle Sharks assistant coach and mother-of-two had been charged with gains benefit by fraud and intent to defraud knowingly using any record which is false and could face up to seven years in jail.

“Is this a joke?”. Sal𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁d said when a reporter asked how she thought she would get away with the false claim.9 News

She pleaded guilty and her sentencing in the District Court is scheduled for next month.

It’s believed she runs an F45 gym in Perth.