Romanian police and prosecutors carried out 21 searches on Thursday morning in six counties in an investigation into suspected fraudulent UK VAT refund claims. The operation moves the case into a concentrated evidence-gathering stage; it does not establish criminal liability for the people searched.
Digi24 reported that searches took place at company premises and homes in Argeș, Dolj, Ilfov, Dâmbovița, Bihor and Vaslui. Investigators suspect that people remotely accessed the British tax authority’s online platform without authorization.
The reported alleged method is specific. Requests for VAT refunds were allegedly filed in the names of UK companies after the bank-account details designated to receive the payments were changed. Digi24 said the alleged loss exceeds £1.7 million.
The significance is not only the reported amount. The investigation concerns a potential weakness with wider cross-border implications: if payment details can be altered within a tax-refund process, an apparently routine claim may direct public money elsewhere. The searches matter because they can test the alleged connection between digital access, changes to payment information and any movement of funds.
The available report also sets clear limits. It does not state what the searches found, whether anyone was detained or formally charged, or how the alleged loss was calculated. Unauthorized access and fraudulent claims are allegations being examined by authorities; responsibility and the final loss figure depend on the investigation and any subsequent court process.
The next consequential development would be an account from police or prosecutors of material seized, procedural measures and any cooperation with UK authorities.
Sources
- Digi24 · Source date: 2026-11-12
Independent editorial content. WUA is not affiliated with any political party. 2026-11-12