Author Archives: Fred Abrams
Divorce & Hidden Money: Concealing Monies In A Cayman Islands Bank Account
This is the second post in the “Divorce & Hidden Money” series: A divorcing spouse may combine a number of elements in one scheme to hide marital assets. Bearer shares can be one of these elements, as more fully set forth at my post Bearer Shares & An Asset Search. Bearer shares are negotiable instruments that for example, […]
Divorce & Hidden Money: Alaskan Plastic Surgeon Accused Of Concealing Millions In Central America
This is the first post in the “Divorce & Hidden Money” series: During ultra-high net worth divorces, one party can conceal vast sums of money from the other by going offshore. Stated differently, divorcing spouses may hide their wealth by utilizing cross-border elements, as money launderers do. The Financial Action Task Force mentions these elements at a F.A.Q. […]
Hiding Assets Through Gatekeepers With Accounts Across The Globe
The bottom of p. 5 of this Wolfsberg Group Statement says money laundering risks include financial “[a]ccounts for ‘gatekeepers’ such as accountants, lawyers, or other professionals for their clients where the identity of the underlying client is not disclosed to the financial institution.“ It is therefore no surprise that assets hidden through laundering or otherwise, can end up in […]
Anti-Money Laundering Bellwether Seeks Transparency Across The Globe
The Financial Action Task Force (“FATF”), is the bellwether for the fight against global money laundering and terrorist financing. Its leading role is recognized by U.S. lawmakers in the Bank Secrecy Act at 31 U.S.C. §5311, which states: “FATF’s Forty Recommendations on Money Laundering and the … Special Recommendations on Terrorist Financing are the recognized global standards […]
A Low-Cost Asset Search
Financial investigators, bankruptcy trustees, judgment creditors, etc., sometimes research** the following kinds of records / databases as part of a low-cost asset search: Real Estate Searches: Some government databases provide for free real property searches, like New York City’s Automated City Register System (“ACRIS”) at “https://www.nyc.gov/html/dof/html/jump/acris.shtml”. ACRIS permits one to search for real property owners […]
