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Europol

VAT fraud with cash registers uncovered in Germany

cde.news desk · 1 min read
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An exterior view of the new Europol headquarters, the alliance of the European Union police and a multinational research organization, in The Hague, The Netherlands 01 July 2011, (reissued 14 May 2017). Media reports on 14 May 2017 state that experts of Europol expect a wave of further attacks on computers with so-called 'Ransomware'. A cyber attack hit at least 150 countries world wide with an estimate 200,000 victims, Europol chief Rob Wainwright was cited as saying in an interview with British broadcaster ITV. It is expected that there are even more attacks on computers recorded at the beginning of the new working week, Wainwright added. The so-called 'WannaCry' ransomware cyber attack hit the computers by encrypting files from affected computer units and demanded 300 US dollars through bitcoin to decrypt the files. EPA/LEX VAN LIESHOUT

More than 300 Italian restaurants in Germany allegedly used manipulated cash registers to avoid taxes

The German Tax Office for Investigation and Criminal Matters (Finanzamt für Fahndung und Strafsachen) and the Italian Finance Corps (Guardia di Finanza), supported by Europol, dismantled an organised crime group involved in VAT fraud through the manipulation of cash registers. 

The action day on 21 September 2021 led to:

  • 93 house searches 
  • 23 individuals facing criminal proceedings  
  • Seizure of cash registers, a server and € 275 000 in cash 

The joint operation, supported by Europol, targeted a criminal network selling software solutions for cash registers enabling businesses to manipulate their daily sales records. Cash-intensive businesses such as restaurants were able to use these ‘tuned’ registers to manipulate their income and diminish their output VAT and corporate tax liability. The customers, mainly Italians established in Germany, acquired both the hardware (cash registers and back offices) and the software from an Italian supplier, who had developed this product. This IT solution enabled the businesses to access the database of the cash register securely and decide how much of their daily income to hide and how much to declare to the tax authorities. More than 300 owners of Italian restaurants across Germany have allegedly bought this solution, which is priced significantly higher than an ordinary cash register that cannot manipulate financial records. 
 

Filed under Comuniq.EUEuropol
Topics Crime

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