As of: February 29, 2024, 11:23 a.m
By: Teresa Toth
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Press
Split
A suspected fraudster in Austria sells cakes for the black and collects unemployment benefits.
Now there is a risk of repayments and charges of fraud.
Linz – The penalties for undeclared work are high.
There is a risk of a fine of up to 50,000 euros if work is carried out and tax laws are ignored.
According to studies, the most common cases of undeclared work take place in the construction industry.
But violations are also often discovered in restaurants and shipping companies.
The case of a woman who baked cakes illegally is quite unusual.
The woman from Austria is said to have illegally sold more than 800 cakes.
© imagebroker/columbo/imago
The woman from Austria's fraud is said to have been exposed through an online ad
A woman from Austria is said to have sold 806 cakes and earned around 72,000 euros untaxed.
The Ministry of Finance announced this on Sunday (February 25).
The 31-year-old Upper Austrian's presumably illegal confectionery business was exposed through an ad on a social platform.
According to the Labor Rights
portal, undeclared work includes
carrying out an activity that violates applicable law.
This includes, among other things:
Disregard for tax law.
Disregard for social security law.
Lack of notification to authorities and social institutions.
No business registration.
In addition to the cake sale, the Austrian is said to have continuously received unemployment benefits and emergency assistance since the beginning of 2022.
According to the Upper Austrian Employment Service (AMS), she illegally received almost 17,000 euros.
“Such cases are not trivial offenses and damage the principles of a fair economy and a solidarity-based society,” said Finance Minister Magnus Brunner.
The Austrian probably charged 90 euros per cake
The 31-year-old now has to expect reimbursement of the aid she applied for, which was probably unjustified.
In addition, the financial police have filed a complaint with the public prosecutor's office for fraud and with the tax office for tax evasion.
It is believed the woman charged €90 per cake.
Undeclared work as an administrative offense
If you are caught, you could face a fine of up to 500,000 euros.
However, a fine or prison sentence of up to ten years is also possible, informs the
Unemployed Self-Help
.
Scammers are also up to mischief on WhatsApp: The police are warning of a new method in which perpetrators can swindle sensitive data from their victims.
(dt/dpa)