Tax credit fraudster given jail sentence

Date: 23rd February 2011

A tax fraudster who used various identities to fraudulently claim tax credits has been given a jail sentence following an investigation by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

The department, which recently launched a new crackdown on tax credit cheats, explained that Olaide Taiwo, known as John, claimed more than £1.3 million worth of tax credits using hundreds of different identities.

Mr Taiwo, who has been sentenced to eight and a half years in jail, had a female accomplice who has also been convicted and is awaiting sentencing.

Richard Young, senior investigating officer for HMRC said: "This pair blatantly hijacked the identities of over 350 innocent people and stole from British taxpayers by submitting over 300 fraudulent tax credit claims between June 2004 and July 2008.

"The sentences given will be a warning to anyone considering committing this type of fraud - it will not be tolerated. HMRC will pursue, prosecute and reclaim the financial gain from those found to commit these types of crime."

Posted by Jacob Williams