Pair arrested over major TikTok tax fraud scam as MHRC issues warning
Individuals posted adverts on TikTok promising financial rewards in exchange for users’ VAT registration or self-assessment details (PA)
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has issued a warning to TikTok users about a suspected £153 million tax fraud scam, urging the public not to share sensitive tax details online.
The alleged scheme involved individuals posting adverts on TikTok, promising financial rewards in exchange for users’ VAT registration or self-assessment credentials.
These details were then purportedly used to submit fraudulent tax repayment claims to HMRC, with the department’s fraud detection systems blocking £153 million in claims.
Two Romanian men, aged 22 and 25, were arrested in east London on 23 April in connection with the alleged fraud, interviewed under caution, and subsequently released on bail.
HMRC cautioned that victims who share their tax information risk identity theft, frozen bank accounts, and potential liability for repayment or prosecution.
