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Most wanted tax fugitive jailed

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11th Apr 2014
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One of the UK’s most wanted tax fugitives, Magdalena Ferkova, was jailed this week at Nottingham Crown Court.

The Czech Republic national was sentenced to five years in prison for her part in a £1.2m benefit fraud.

She was part of a five-strong family gang who duped people into coming to the UK as ‘benefit tourists’. The gang duped vulnerable nationals from Slovakia and the Czech Republic into coming to Nottingham, where they were told they would be given jobs.

But in reality, the foreign nationals’ passports were taken and they were temporarily housed in the city. The gang obtained National Insurance numbers and opened a bank account for them. After applications for tax credits and child benefit were made, the gang sent the claimants home, according to HMRC.

During 2010 raids by the Revenue, the police and HMRC investigators discovered 124 bank accounts set up to receive cash from 77 false tax credit claims worth £750,000.

The other four members were sentenced in November 2013, but Ferkova had absconded.

However HMRC received information after it posted her details on its 'Most Wanted' website and tracked her down to her home country and brought her to the UK to be sentenced. 

On sentencing, Judge Sampson told the fraudster she was “thoroughly dishonest” and a “brazen” liar.

Replies (3)

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By taxbakbristol
12th Apr 2014 04:23

How do these criminals obtain bank accounts and NI numbers

Its my experience that to open a bank account you must show various documents ie your name and address etc.....124 bank accounts opened !

As for NI numbers ...wow ...you have to jump through hoops to get one of these with a face to face interview at a Job Centre etc

What am I doing wrong!

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By Jekyll and Hyde
12th Apr 2014 13:19

is the heading right?
One of the most wanted tax fugitive?

Is the 5 year sentence enough? Compare this to the Cornish accountant with 7 years.

We have tax credit fraud, people trafficking, fleaing and being one of the most wanted tax fugitive.

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By N.Krishnaswamy
14th Apr 2014 15:13

How a bank account could be opened without observing KYC norms? Were the bank officials also in collusion?

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