THREE fraudsters were jailed yesterday for masterminding a plot to steal £50million from the Inland Revenue.
The gang got away with £560,000 before officials rumbled their scam.

They planted undercover operatives in Revenue and Customs offices in London to harvest wealthy taxpayers' identities. Each ID was used to set up false tax repayments which were paid into the fraudsters' accounts.

The trio paid three corrupt HMRC staff £20 for each ID passed on. But officials traced the flow of money and the gang were arrested last June. It is thought their money was laundered in Nigeria and spent on luxury homes. Other cash went on computers and TVs for the trio's home in Dartford, Kent.

Olamide Coker, 33, Rufina Ulom, 30, and Olaniyi Akinyemi, 32, were jailed for 8½ years in total at Maidstone Crown Court.

Three ex-HMRC staff have already been convicted.

Joff Parsons, head of HMRC Criminal Investigations, said: "Those who seek to corrupt our staff and systems always face criminal sanctions."