Commissioner: New tactics, biometrics being used to catch elusive GST fraud masterminds
BENGALURU: Since the introduction of GST in 2017, a sophisticated scam has thrived, exploiting loopholes and draining thousands of crores from the exchequer every year. Despite catching hundreds of fraudsters, the masterminds remain hidden, according to a source.
The challenge lies in the complexities of enforcement across different states, cultures and languages. Investigations often hit dead ends as fraudsters operate across multiple regions, disappearing before they can be caught, explained the source.
“Every year, we shut down over 1,000 fake companies in Karnataka alone, only to see just as many reemerge,” a senior official explained. “If we don’t catch them within six months, they vanish, making it like searching for a needle in a haystack.”
But Commercial Tax Commissioner C Shikha said the department is closing in on these elusive operators.
