150 ATO Staff Caught in $2 Billion Social Media Fraud

Some staff have been sacked and others face criminal investigation after a GST refund scheme was exposed as fraudulent.

Australian dollars in Sydney, on Jan. 15, 2016. AAP Image/Joel Carrett

As many as 150 staff at the Australian Tax Office (ATO) have been investigated after it was discovered some were involved in a social media scam that netted $2 billion ($US1.3 billion).

The multi-agency investigation, dubbed Operation Protego, was initiated in December 2021 by the ATO in response to a surge in tip-offs about GST refund fraud, and an unusual rise in Australian Business Number (ABN) and GST registrations.