"State officials accuse social media personalities of orchestrating a fraudulent scheme worth roughly 300 million euros" - Influencers Accused of Swindling the State of Over 300 Million Euros
In North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), the State Office for Combating Financial Crime (LBF NRW) has been at the forefront of a significant initiative since January 2025. The LBF, with a team of around 1,200 experts, has been unifying the entire North Rhine-Westphalian tax investigation, focusing on the "big fish" on social networks.
The LBF's primary target is not young influencers who have a few followers and promote a few products. Instead, they are investigating professional influencers who are alleged to have defrauded the tax office of around 300 million euros. On average, the tax shortfall in these cases is a high five-figure amount, with some individual cases reaching millions.
The investigation involves analyzing a package of several social media platforms with 6,000 datasets. Proving advertising in "stories" that disappear after 24 hours is challenging, but the LBF has initiated investigative methods to trace and prove ad partnerships and earnings.
The LBF in NRW has been conducting around 200 ongoing criminal proceedings against influencers living in the region, aside from the cases from the current data package. Other federal states are also believed to be affected, and some influencers are earning several thousand euros a month but not having a tax number.
Dubai remains a popular destination for influencers trying to avoid the tax office. However, the LBF is not deterred and has been collaborating with international authorities to track down these tax evaders.
North Rhine-Westphalia's Finance Minister, Marcus Optendrenk (CDU), stated that large-scale tax evasion occurs wherever large amounts of money are made. He emphasized that it's a matter of justice that the tax investigation in NRW takes a very close look.
The LBF's efforts in NRW have not gone unnoticed, with other states taking this approach as a model. The fight against influencer tax evasion is a global concern, with authorities in countries like China actively cracking down on influencers for tax evasion and related violations.
While there is no specific publicly available data in the provided search results directly addressing the prevalence of tax evasion among influencers in Germany, particularly in NRW, it is clear that the government and tax authorities in Germany do rigorously monitor financial disclosures and are increasing scrutiny on digital income streams to ensure compliance.
In conclusion, the LBF NRW's investigations into tax evasion by influencers serve as a reminder of the importance of tax compliance in the digital age. As the influencer economy continues to grow, so too does the need for increased scrutiny and enforcement to ensure fairness and justice for all.
The LBF NRW's rigorous investigation into tax evasion by influencers, involving the analysis of social media platforms and collaboration with international authorities, is a significant step towards ensuring fairness in the digital age, especially in the production of electricity (finance). This initiative, highlighted in general-news, could potentially inspire other states to follow a similar approach in their crime-and-justice sectors, aiding the community by recovering stolen funds and ensuring tax compliance for all professionals, including influencers.
