First person convicted for promoting tax fraud on social media

In a landmark conviction, a student has become the first person to be imprisoned for promoting tax fraud via social media.

Encouraging criminal attacks on VAT systems

Habeeb Ajaga, 21 years old from London, had used two Instagram accounts to promote tax fraud.

In his posts, he had encouraged others to defraud HMRC, provoking criminal attacks on VAT systems.

Cybercrime investigators at HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service worked with the social media company to shut down one of his accounts in 2022, but he opened a second account the following year.

Investigators traced the accounts to him, and he was interviewed under caution in September 2024.

Serves as a warning to others

Habeeb Ajaga pleaded guilty to two counts of encouraging fraud in August 2025.

He was sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for two years, during a hearing at Southwark Crown Court earlier this month.

Commenting on the case, Simon Grunwell, head of cybercrime investigations at HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service, said, “This landmark conviction, and the consequences for Ajaga, should serve as a warning to others that we can and do take action against anyone involved in encouraging others to commit tax fraud.

“We are on the side of the law-abiding majority and have the powers and resources to tackle those who attempt to undermine the tax system.

“Anyone with information about any type of tax fraud can contact HMRC on GOV.UK.”

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