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Vageesh Potnis, aged 34, was sentenced to prison after pleading guilty at NSW District Court on January 6 to a sophisticated tax scam that targeted two Australian taxpayers from whom he got nearly $30,000.
Potnis sent out emails pretending to be from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), which told recipients they had unpaid taxes.
Potnis reportedly travelled to Australia in 2018 after receiving a bachelor’s degree in science in his native India, according to Judge Mark Williams SC.
“The first victim received an email from either the offender or another member of the group, pretending to be from the ATO, telling him he had tax debt,” he said.
“He transferred a significant amount of money (totalling $11,000) into an account.”
The second victim made seven transfers totalling $17,000 to a bank account authorities soon discovered was owned by Potnis.
Judge Williams claimed that the scheme involved phone calls and emails, with Potnis’ mobile phone providing police with damaging evidence.
Potnis was accused of recklessly and knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime on January 6, but he managed to avoid going to jail.
Additionally, Judge Williams considered two counts of dealing with identification information to conduct an indictable offence and one allegation of knowingly and carelessly leading a criminal gang.
Potnis entered a plea guilty to all charges and was given a sentence of 200 hours of community service and a two-year jail term to be served as an intensive correction order in the community.
Scammers are always seeking new ways to deceive people, the Australian Tax Office warned.
Speaking on behalf of the company, a representative said they will never: “threaten immediate arrest, demand immediate payment or send unsolicited prerecorded messages to a phone.”
Ultimately, Australians should be aware that scammers will try to take advantage of them, no matter how innocent or vulnerable they may be.
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