Two Romanian nationals, aged 22 and 25, were arrested in east London on 23 April 2026 on suspicion of masterminding a £153 million tax scam that used TikTok to harvest personal tax details from British users, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has confirmed. Cybercrime investigators blocked the fraudulent claims before they were paid out, but the suspects, who have been released on bail, are accused of promising quick cash in exchange for victims' Government Gateway credentials.

The TikTok lure: how a £153m fraud targeted tax accounts

According to HMRC, the unnamed men used TikTok posts to promise 'risk free' financial rewards to anyone who shared their tax account sign-in details. Once obtained, the criminals submitted fraudulent repayment claims to HMRC in the victims' names. The scale of the operation became clear only after investigators identified and blocked claims totalling £153 million—a sum that would have dwarfed many previous social-media-driven tax frauds. HMRC said it had seen similar suspected scams across Instagram and Snapchat, but this is one of the largest single cases linked to a single platform.

Why the victims may still face debt and prosecution

HMRC warned that anyone who provided their tax details—even if they were tricked—risks having their identity stolen, their bank account frozen, and being held liable to repay the money. The agency added that victims could even face prosecution themselves. Simon Grunwell, head of cybercrime investigations at HMRC's fraud investigation service, said: 'You should protect your personal tax details in the same way you protect your bank details. Claims of quick,risk-free cash in return for sharing your personal information are a scam.' The warning underscores a harsh reality: the person whose data is used often ends up owing HMRC money, while the fraudsters hide their identity.

What remains unknown about the suspects and their network

The two Romanian nationals, arrested at separate addresses in east London, have been released on bail while investigations continue.. HMRC has not revealed how many TikTok users handed over their details, whether the arrested men were the sole operators, or if any of the £153m in claims was actually paid before being blocked. the report also does not name the suspects or specify which TikTok accounts were used to promote the scam.. Broader questions linger: was this a one-off crew or part of a larger organised network targeting UK taxpayers through social media? The lack of detail on the victims—their age, location, or numbers—leaves a gap in understanding how easily ordinary users can fall prey.

As HMRC noted, tax scams using social media are on the rise, and this case is a stark reminder that the promise of easy money often comes with a hidden cost. The public is urged to report any suspicious adverts on GOV.UK.