Thirteen people have been arrested in Romania on suspicion of making fraudulent tax repayment claims using personal data that was stolen in sophisticated phishing attacks.
Criminal investigators from HMRC joined more than 100 Romanian police officers to arrest the men and women in the counties of Ilfov, Giurgiu and Calarasi.
A joint investigation team was established earlier this year and brought together Romanian Prosecutors, HMRC and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
It’s suspected that organised criminal gangs have stolen data and used it to submit fraudulent PAYE claims, as well as VAT repayments and Child Benefit payments. The arrests are part of ongoing investigations linked to phishing attacks.
The men and women, aged between 23 and 53, were arrested by Romanian Police’s Economic Crimes Investigation Directorate on suspicion of computer fraud, money laundering and illegal access to a computer system.
A 38-year-old man was also arrested in Preston today in another investigation linked to the phishing attacks. He continues to be questioned by HMRC officers who also seized electronic devices.
