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According to [1], > In 2008 and 2009, multiple groups of fraudsters took advantage of differing tax rules in different EU countries to buy and sell carbon cred
by tromp 3y ago
According to [1],
> In 2008 and 2009, multiple groups of fraudsters took advantage of differing tax rules in different EU countries to buy and sell carbon credits, or permission to emit carbon dioxide, on exchanges in Europe. The scammers would buy the credits in a country with no value-added tax, and quickly sell them in France or other countries that did charge VAT.
> Stephane Alzraa, 38, was extradited from Israel following a request by French authorities.
> Aknin remains in Israel, where he is fighting extradition
This 39 year old Michael Aknin seems to fit the story...
[1] https://www.timesofisrael.com/trial-starts-for-franco-israeli-man-accused-in-carbon-credits-scam/ https://www.timesofisrael.com/trial-starts-for-franco-israel...
- canadiantim 3y agoIs that fraud or just arbitrage?
- throw_m239339 3y ago> Is that fraud or just arbitrage? It's VAT fraud, so literally tax fraud.
- ysofunny 3y ago[flagged]
- reactordev 3y agoYeah. Loopholes are usually filled with the bodies of those that abused it to the point of being paved over. So even if Chad was winning, he lost, and the ability to play will be removed.
- throw_m239339 3y agoThe article spends at least 4 paragraphs explaining how the scheme works, did you read it? There is no loophole, since what they did was illegal to begin with and they knew it, it's a very basic and common scheme, it's VAT fraud and that type of fraud has existed since VAT exists.
- Recursing 3y agoReminds me of: https://xkcd.com/1494/ https://xkcd.com/1494/
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- bsder 3y agoIf you read the article, it's fraud. They ran the exact same fraud as had been run on cell phones. > Criminals imported phones from other EU countries, sold them to consumers with VAT tacked on, pocketed the tax, and disappeared before anyone was the wiser. Or they used carousel schemes, pretending to sell phones through a chain of businesses created for the express purpose of fraud and requesting VAT reimbursements from governments at each point of sale.
- hef19898 3y agoThis way of cheating with VAT is as old as there is a pan-European VAT agreement (the way to declare and manage it, not the amount). And sure as hell, there is always someone to try it. And sure as hell, someone is surprised they ultimately get cought...
- az226 3y agoThey pocketed the sales tax and then never sent it to the government.
- nhggfu 3y agoWhere / what are these "exchanges" in Europe? examples ?
- code_duck 3y agoThey are mentioned many times in the article. Powernext and Bluenext.
- shrubble 3y agoIsrael does not necessarily extradite for financial fraud, that is why Aknin is fighting it in court. There are many legal maneuvers available in the Israeli court system.
- yommiejonson 3y ago[flagged]
- rodgerd 3y agoIsrael refuses to extradite child rapists; hardly surprising that they'd refuse to give up mere fraudsters.
- coryrc 3y agoNeither does France
- Scoundreller 3y agoOnly if you’re a French citizen do they not extradite. Might try you locally for your crimes abroad though.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- littlestymaar 3y ago> Might try you locally for your crimes abroad though. Not for child rapists though[1]… [1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Polanski_sexual_abuse_case https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Polanski_sexual_abuse_...
- Scoundreller 3y agofamous child rapists. Non-famous child rapists need not apply for special treatment.
- kostas4949 3y agoI think it's Cyril Astruc. His parents fit the job descriptions in the article: tailor and teacher.
- AceJohnny2 3y agoAbsolutely. Also searching for his name shows pictures that perfectly fit the physical description and Vanity Fair link in the article. Of course, it could just be one of his many pseudonyms ;)
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- resolutebat 3y agoBingo. "He dressed in blazers cut from blue velvet or embroidered with shimmering brocade flowers. He liked to wear a diamond-encrusted Chopard sun pendant on his partially bared chest." https://image-uniservice.linternaute.com/image/450/1058096026/11157526.png https://image-uniservice.linternaute.com/image/450/105809602...