British Tax System Uses Web Robots To Find Cheats

judgecorp writes "HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is extending its campaign against tax cheats with the news that it will use web robots to trawl cyberspace. The system will check eBay and Google to identify traders who aren't declaring all their earnings. From the article: 'The decision to target cyberspace to hunt down those evading tax comes as HMRC continues its campaign to recover around £7 billion lost to the Treasury each year. It is thought that this latest development, the use of ‘web robots’, will help HMRC track down rogue eBay and Gumtree businesses, as well as people earning second incomes by acting as private tutors. It will also help it hunt down so called cash-in-hand handymen and traders.'"

Bizarre benefits fraud excuses revealed

[David Gerard]

THE OSBOURNES, Bog Society, Sunday (NTN) — A survey by fraud investigators has revealed the top ten worst excuses [newstechnica.com] used by the evil benefit cheats depriving you, yes you, of valuable pennies you could have put toward your next pint.

• * "We didn't realise the NHS needed that six billion quid, we just had to make a few million phone calls."
• * "Don't tell me you give a shit about the tax your supermarket pays if you get your milk 2p cheaper."
• * "It was a necessary and unavoidable cost of doing business to route every penny through Switzerland."
• * "Kate Moss on my arm or you getting to study. I mean, let's get serious here."

"Benefit fraud is no joke," said welfare reform minister Lord Fraud, "and yet our investigators are routinely dealing with barefaced cheek and ridiculous excuses for stealing money from the taxpayer.

"Fortunately, they're mates of George's, so we can get on with scapegoating victims we're fairly sure probably can't fight back. You weren't limping on the way in here, were you?"

Re:Damn

[Compaqt]

We've got a runner!