John Friedrich (possibly also known as Friedrich Hohenberger), born in Germany or South Australia, was Managing Director of the National Safety Council of Australia during the 1980s.

On April 6, 1989, John Friedrich was arrested after borrowing vast sums of money from Australian banks. He was later described as Australia's greatest conman when it was exposed he had faked career qualifications and was living in Australia under a false passport. On July 23, 1991 he appeared in court to face 91 fraud related charges involving over AUD$293 million.

On July 27, 1991, he was found dead on his farm near Sale, Victoria with a single gunshot wound to his head. His death was ruled a suicide.