Digital pickpocketing, over 30 million euro tax evasion uncovered

From 2019 to 2024, a couple living in Olbia allegedly failed to declare more than €30 million in income to the tax authorities. This was revealed by the Guardia di finanza of Sassari. The couple allegedly bought and resold online tens of thousands of tickets for matches, concerts, and shows, but failed to report the proceeds of the digital scalping activity. The couple allegedly used their dual residence in Italy and Switzerland to circumvent Italian tax laws.

The investigation started following a report by the Special Goods and Services Unit which - as part of the 'Follow the ticket' project - identified a person suspected of being involved in an illegal secondary ticketing activity. The attention of the Guardia di Finanza then also focused on his spouse, who turned out to be equally involved in the business. The couple, according to the reconstruction by the Guardia Gialle, would have bought large quantities of tickets for events held on the national territory and then resold them without authorisation.

The tickets purchased by the two from 2019 to 2024 would be in the tens of thousands, with a total value exceeding one million euro. And, despite the fact that for tax purposes the centre of vital interest of the business was located in Sardinia, the two allegedly leveraged their dual residence in Italy and Switzerland in order not to declare to the tax authorities the multi-million euro income derived from the resale of the tickets.

The Fiamme Gialle, in fact, ascertained the existence of a company under Swiss law of which one of the spouses was the sole director and partner. However, the activity was in practice managed from the Gallura region, while the Swiss office was merely an address.

Investigations revealed that the company, just like the couple, allegedly advertised and resold tickets for Italian Serie A matches and for concerts organised in Italy even by internationally renowned artists, which is why the company was qualified as a 'total evader' in Italia. The undeclared revenues amounted to more than EUR 30 million. VAT evasion of approximately EUR 6.5 million was also established.