G20 Summit and Offshore Banking - The Best April Fool's Joke EVER!
1 Apr 2009
, 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..
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