A student who promoted tax fraud on Instagram has become the first person to be convicted of encouraging others to defraud HMRC on social media.
Habeeb Ajaga, from London, used two Instagram accounts to encourage criminal attacks on VAT systems.
Cybercrime investigators at HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service worked with the social media company to shut down one of his accounts in 2022, but he opened a second account the following year.
Investigators traced the accounts to him and he was interviewed under caution in September 2024.
The 21-year-old pleaded guilty to two counts of encouraging fraud in August 2025.
He was sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for two years, during a hearing at Southwark Crown Court on 16 October 2025.
Simon Grunwell, head of cybercrime investigations at HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service, said: “This landmark conviction, and the consequences for Ajaga, should serve as a warning to others that we can and do take action against anyone involved in encouraging others to commit tax fraud.
“We are on the side of the law-abiding majority and have the powers and resources to tackle those who attempt to undermine the tax system.
“Anyone with information about any type of tax fraud can contact HMRC on GOV.UK.”
