Romania raids 21 addresses over HMRC VAT refund fraud of 1.7 million pounds

Searches in six counties

Romanian police and prosecutors searched 21 addresses on Thursday, 12 November 2026, in Argeș, Dolj, Ilfov, Dâmbovița, Bihor and Vaslui. The searches cover the premises of companies and the homes of individuals, and they are looking for evidence. The operation is carried out by the Directorate for the Investigation of Economic Crime, under a criminal case covering illegal access to an information system, continued computer fraud and money laundering. The Prosecutor's Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice (PICCJ) said the suspects allegedly broke into the systems of the British tax authority HMRC. The General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police (IGPR) reported 21 home search warrants and four arrest warrants.

How the first scheme allegedly worked

Between 12 January 2024 and 18 February 2026, several Romanian citizens allegedly accessed the HMRC online platform remotely, a system protected by a password and multi-factor authentication. They allegedly filed VAT refund claims in the names of UK companies and altered the bank account details, so the money would be paid into accounts they controlled. Prosecutors stated the outcome of these claims:

“89 fraudulent VAT refund claims were filed, 30 of which were approved and paid, causing actual damage of 1,662,292.99 pounds sterling.”

Investigators said the suspects used the details of several bank accounts in the refund requests. In one case, two claims allegedly caused separate damage of 290,020 pounds, with the money sent to accounts provided by those involved. In another, four claims were filed through a bank account offered by an accomplice, for a total of 25,452.26 pounds that was not paid. Three income tax refund claims worth 16,452.26 pounds, filed in the name of one female taxpayer, were not paid either.

Approved and paid (30 VAT claims)1,662,292.99

Not paid, attempt stage (59 VAT claims)1,417,215.67

Not paid (3 income tax claims)16,452.26

Approved and paid (30 VAT claims)

1662292.99 GBP

Not paid, attempt stage (59 VAT claims)

1417215.67 GBP

Not paid (3 income tax claims)

16452.26 GBP

Data from the article text

A second scheme in 2025 and 2026

Between 21 October 2025 and 1 February 2026, prosecutors describe a similar operation in which 84 VAT refund claims were filed in the names of UK companies, without their knowledge or consent. Sixteen of those claims were paid, causing actual damage of 43,745.32 pounds. The other 68 claims, worth 297,617.94 pounds in total, were not paid and remained at the attempt stage. Both schemes are part of the same criminal case.

Differing loss figures

Most reports, citing the prosecutors, put the loss at more than 1.7 million pounds. A report by Adevărul instead put the fraud at more than 3.4 million pounds, and the articles do not explain the difference. The 1.7 million pounds figure is the one that appears in the statements from the prosecutors and the police.

Joint investigation

The operation runs as a Joint Investigation Team between judicial authorities in Romania and the United Kingdom, supported by Eurojust. Twenty British investigators take part in the activities, according to the reports. The operational work of the searches takes place within this team. The timeline below sets out the periods described by prosecutors and the day of the searches.