The aim of the campaign is to inform the public about the dangers associated with the activities of members of organised criminal groups seeking to defraud the state budget of VAT. The campaign highlights education on conducting business safely and in compliance with applicable law. At the same time, measures are being taken to warn people not to let themselves be “drawn into” carousel fraud.
It is worth emphasising that liability is incurred not only by those who organise the illegal practice of VAT fraud, but also by those who are used to sign fictitious invoices—thereby embarking on a criminal path.
Every participant in carousel fraud must expect consequences: tax, criminal and fiscal-criminal. The victims of tax crimes are most often people who, due to limited awareness of the law, their financial situation or a lack of means to live, agree to participate in the criminal practice in exchange for regular or one-off remuneration.
People addicted to alcohol or drugs, unemployed people, pensioners, young people just entering professional life and even terminally ill people are exploited. Candidates for “front companies” are recruited by members of an organised criminal group that knows perfectly well where and whom to look for.
The campaign includes various forms of activity, including meetings with university students and unemployed people registered at employment offices. A website has also been made available: www.slupczyoszust.pl, containing all information about the campaign, as well as information about the Tax Control Service’s current activities in individual regions of the country.
An information leaflet, posters, a large-format exhibition and a radio advertisement to be broadcast on Polskie Radio have also been prepared for the campaign.
Prokuratura Okręgowa w Legnicy/ii