By letting mobile phones spin quickly between different companies, among other things, fraudsters are suspected of having hijacked billions in a tangle that is currently being rolled up by several authorities.
Experts have judged that this may be the largest fraud scandal that has ever affected Sweden.
The Swedish Tax Agency has estimated the state's loss at three billion, but SVT's survey shows that the actual sum may land higher.
The Swedish Tax Agency alerted the Government Offices early on about the ongoing crime, and suggested that the fraud should be made more difficult by changing the rules for VAT payments.
Moves the VAT liability
During the year, a bill was produced, which has now been sent to the Law Council.
By shifting the VAT obligation from seller to buyer, it is hoped to be able to prevent the arrangement used in the plot.
- It happens in several stages and is very fast, and therefore we believe that legislation could effectively help stop this, says Liz Kelenius, section manager at the Swedish Tax Agency.
- The VAT deducted will be a pure profit that can be used to dump prices and put competition out of play.