Danish man suspected of million-crown transfers after exchange office visit
A family man from the Copenhagen area risks having to pay tax on nearly three million kroner after his personal information was allegedly misused in connection with money laundering.
Danish man suspected of million-crown transfers after exchange office visit
A 41-year-old man from the Copenhagen area finds himself in financial and legal difficulties that can be traced back to a single visit to a financial institution on Nørrebro in the summer of 2017. At the time, he wanted to transfer a modest sum to his mother, who was then suffering from cancer and was unable to support herself.
Together with a friend, he entered an exchange office on Kapelvej. To complete the transaction, he was asked to present his health insurance certificate, which was copied by staff. He completed the transfer, paid a fee, and repeated the procedure a few times over the following period.
Four years later, in autumn 2021, a message appeared in his digital mailbox from the Danish Tax Agency. This message indicated that foreign transfers totalling nearly three million kroner had been made in his name, and that he was therefore liable to pay tax on these amounts.
The man, who works full-time in retail, was bewildered by the demand. He quickly contacted the police, and during interviews at Bellahøj, it became clear that investigators regarded him as a victim in a larger case of financial crime.
Investigators believe that his identity was compromised at the exchange office in question. His personal data was subsequently used to move large sums of money out of the country, including to accounts in Dubai. The police suspect the money comes from illegal business activities.
The tax authorities used a bank statement from the same exchange office as documentation that the man personally carried out the transfers. As he did not lodge a timely complaint within the prescribed three-month deadline, his tax rate was sharply increased. This means that the vast majority of his income today goes to the state treasury.
The consequences have been profound for his family. Despite an income that can reach around 50,000 kroner per month through overtime, he often receives only between 17,000 and 18,000 kroner after tax deductions. The family has had to cut spending drastically and only recently managed to purchase new furniture after months of saving.
Police report that between 70 and 80 people have come forward with similar experiences. The case involves a total of five exchange offices in Copenhagen and encompasses over one billion kroner sent out of Denmark. Authorities assess that the actual number of victims could be significantly higher.
The case will be featured in an upcoming programme on TV 2.
Source: TV 2
Source: TV 2 Nyheder