A businessman and his ex-girlfriend who used bogus identities to steal more than £2 million have been ordered to pay back more than £200,000.
Satpal Singh Mahal and Louise Brown used fake names and stolen identities to set up companies and bank accounts online.
The pair claimed the companies sold UK media advertising to overseas clients - when in fact none of the companies actually traded and the couple had used them solely to fraudulently claim VAT repayments on fabricated expenses.
HMRC said they were caught out when checks made into their VAT returns raised concerns, and each time officers asked to speak with them at their business premises, they said they were too busy to answer questions.
Mahal pleaded guilty to committing insurance fraud after he was found to have submitted fake invoices to his insurers, when the couple’s flat was damaged.
