Money laundering is the process by which criminals create the illusion that the money they are spending is actually theirs to spend.

Published 1996

Criminals commit three basic types of crime – crimes of passion or honour, crimes of violence or vandalism and economic/financial crimes.

Published 1996

The simplistic answer to this question is that criminals launder money. But that answer is far too simple to be completely true. The fact is that money launderers are to be found in all walks of life, many acting entirely innocently.

Published 1996

According to some estimates, some 80% of property crime, for example, theft, is committed to fund drugs habits. If there were no people willing to buy the stolen goods, then there would be no point in criminals committing theft because there would be no money raised.

Published 1996

The history of money laundering is, primarily, that of hiding money or assets from the state – either from blatant confiscation or from taxation – and, indeed, from a combination of both. And, of course from those seeking to enforce judgments in civil cases or to follow the money that results from other crime. It is interwoven with the history of trade and of banking.

Published 1996

The most hotly argued topic relating to money laundering has long been whether laws do – or even should – relate to tax crimes.

Published 1996

The Euro is not quite as new a concept as some would have you believe. It is, at its most simple, an extension of a series of unsuccessful measures to stabilise currency movements, and harmonise (some would say homogenise) economies, within Europe.

Published 1998

For full information about "How not to be a money launderer" please click on "Books".

This extract is from the second edition published December 1998.