G20 Summit and Offshore Banking - The Best April Fool's Joke EVER!

As shops and banks are boarded up across the city of London in anticipation of some healthy rioting over the next few days, Gordon Brown is carefully guarding his own April fool's jest among a select group of friends and advisers. Tax havens aren't really the gutters of world finance, its the UK and US! Gathered for a fireside chat, he tells them how in fact he has turned London into one of the finest money laundering centers in the world.

''Ah tell ye..it wasne easy,'' he grunts between slices of thickly buttered crumpet ''ah made a pact y'see wi al the topdogs..we're gonna let em all knoow on April 2nd, AFTAH April fool's, ye ken? Just ye wait till ye see the looks on their faces!''

A chorus of approving chuckles fills the room.

Unfortunately for Gordon, the big secret may already be out.

An Australian political scientist
, Jason Sharman, armed with little more than google and a $10,000 dollar budget, set out to form anonymous companies and offshore bank accounts worldwide - with interesting results (see economist article). Where were the places with the most lenient due diligence requirements?

In his 45 attempts to open anonymous shell companies and secret bank accounts Jason was successful in 17 cases, of which 13 were OECD countries. Britain earned top honours. In 45 minutes Jason was able to form an anonymous bearer -share company without identification, complete with nominee directors and a secretary for just  £515.95 ($753).

But when he tried to open accounts in Switzerland and Bermuda, he was asked for documents like a notarized copy of his birth certificate!!

It just goes to show that high-tax governments aren't interested in where the money's coming from - as long as they get a slice of the pie..

Lets see what theatrics tomorrow brings.

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