£153 Million Tax Fraud Scandal Exposed! Rising Fuel Prices Push Up UK Company Car Allowances as Amazon Launches Same-Day Fresh Grocery Delivery
- TBA
- Jun 8
- 5 min read
Two arrested for suspected £153 million TikTok tax scam
The UK's tax authority, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), has announced the arrest of two men suspected of carrying out a large-scale tax fraud scheme through the social media platform TikTok. Investigators believe the scheme involved using UK taxpayers’ personal tax information to submit fraudulent tax refund claims worth as much as £153 million (approximately RMB 1.4 billion).
HMRC cybercrime investigators conducted an operation in East London, successfully blocking suspected fraudulent claims totaling £153 million. On 23 April 2026, two suspects were arrested in the London borough of Newham.
According to investigators, the suspects are Romanian nationals aged 22 and 25. Authorities allege that they used TikTok to promote schemes promising “risk-free income” and “easy cash rewards” in order to persuade UK taxpayers to share:
HMRC account login credentials;
Tax account information; and
Personal identification details.
The criminals then allegedly used this information to impersonate taxpayers and submit fraudulent tax repayment claims to HMRC for financial gain. Both suspects have since been released on bail while the investigation continues.
However, HMRC warned that this type of scam is not limited to TikTok. Investigators have identified similar fraudulent activity on platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat, and other social media networks.
Scammers often contact users directly through private messages, claiming they can help secure tax refunds, government grants, or cash rewards. They frequently describe the schemes as “completely legal” and “risk-free” in order to obtain victims’ login credentials and personal information.
In reality, because fraudsters conceal their identities, the taxpayer whose details were misused is often the person HMRC initially pursues for repayment when fraudulent claims are discovered. HMRC has reiterated that:
It will never use social media to notify individuals about tax refunds;
It will never request personal information through TikTok, Instagram, or other social media platforms; and
It will never ask for bank account or payment details via social media.
HMRC fuel advisory rates hiked from 1 June 2026
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has announced an increase in its Advisory Fuel Rates (AFR) for company cars effective from 1 June 2026. The guidance rates for petrol and diesel vehicles have risen by as much as 28% compared with the previous quarter, reflecting the impact of persistently high global oil prices on the UK fuel market.
At the same time, the separate advisory rates for electric vehicles, introduced earlier this year, remain unchanged. The existing rates for both public and home charging continue to apply. For company cars charged at both residential and public locations, HMRC allows businesses to apportion mileage costs based on the proportion of charging carried out at each location, provided the calculation is considered “fair and reasonable.”
According to HMRC, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has tightened global oil supplies, keeping Brent crude oil prices around $100 per barrel and maintaining pressure on fuel prices across the UK. This marks the first adjustment to petrol and diesel advisory fuel rates in a year and highlights the rising fuel costs facing businesses and drivers.
In addition, LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) advisory rates have also increased, returning to the levels previously published by HMRC at the end of last year. Under HMRC rules, the previous rates, which took effect in April 2026, may continue to be used for up to one month after the new rates come into force.
When the Rates Apply
HMRC emphasized that the advisory fuel rates may only be used in the following circumstances:
To reimburse employees for fuel costs incurred during business travel in a company car; or
To require employees to repay the cost of fuel used for private journeys in a company car.
The rates cannot be used for any other purpose. Businesses that apply the official HMRC rates do not need to seek a separate tax dispensation.
HMRC Guidance on Tax Treatment
HMRC's latest guidance states that if an employer reimburses employees at or below the advisory fuel rate applicable to the vehicle’s engine size and fuel type, there will be no taxable profit for the employee and no Class 1A National Insurance contributions payable by the employer.
However, businesses may choose to apply their own mileage rates if:
Their vehicles are more fuel-efficient than average; or
The actual cost of business travel exceeds HMRC’s advisory rates.
HMRC also notes that if an employer pays a mileage rate above the advisory rate but cannot demonstrate that the actual fuel cost per mile is higher, the excess amount will not trigger a fuel benefit charge. However, the excess reimbursement will be treated as taxable income and subject to Class 1 National Insurance contributions.
Quarterly Reviews
HMRC reviews and updates advisory fuel rates on a quarterly basis, with assessments conducted on:
1 March
1 June
1 September
1 December
Industry observers expect that if tensions in the Middle East continue and international oil prices remain elevated, company car fuel rates in the UK could face further increases in the coming quarters.
Amazon expands grocery products to same-day delivery shoppers
E-commerce giant Amazon has announced a major expansion of its online grocery business in the UK at its “Delivering the Future” event in Dartford, Kent. The move will allow selected customers to add fresh groceries to their regular Amazon orders and receive everything through same-day delivery.
The service is currently available in parts of London, where customers can order fresh food alongside other products through Amazon's platform and have them delivered on the same day.
During the event, Amazon also unveiled a series of investment initiatives covering logistics, employee training, and community support programmes.
According to the company, the expanded same-day grocery range includes:
Fresh vegetables
Beef and other meats
Poultry products
Seafood
Milk and dairy products
Bread
Eggs
Frozen foods
These items will be available alongside Amazon’s existing same-day delivery categories, including electronics, household goods, and everyday essentials. Customers can place all items in a single shopping basket rather than making separate orders.
The expansion comes after Amazon closed all of its Amazon Fresh physical grocery stores in the UK. Approximately five of those locations have since been converted into Whole Foods Market stores and continue to operate under that brand.
Industry analysts believe the move signals a strategic shift, with Amazon focusing more heavily on strengthening its online delivery network rather than expanding its brick-and-mortar retail presence.
Amazon’s push into rapid grocery delivery is widely seen as a response to the rapid growth of the UK's rapid delivery market. As consumers increasingly expect faster and more convenient shopping experiences, major retailers are investing heavily to capture a larger share of the online grocery sector.
Several established UK supermarket chains have already built a strong presence in this space, including:
Tesco, through its rapid delivery service Whoosh
Sainsbury’s, through its Chop Chop delivery platform
The latest move positions Amazon more directly against traditional supermarket operators as competition intensifies in the fast-growing same-day grocery delivery market.
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