How to Launder Money - by George Cottrell & Lawrence Burke Files (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Money laundering is as old as money itself - and yet the laws designed to prevent it are as ineffective as they have ever been.

Today's anti-money laundering laws stop only a staggering 0.05 per cent of global illicit financial flows, while significantly increasing the regulatory burden on legitimate businesses and consumers. Fraudsters and criminals stay several steps ahead of regulators, while it often costs governments more to execute forfeitures than they reap from them. In short, it's abundantly clear that these laws, though set up with the best of

intentions, are not working.

Billions move around the world in cash, gold and other assets every day without a trace. How to Launder Money explains how and why, breaking down in delicious detail the mechanics of money laundering - not to enable wrongdoing but to illuminate it, to showcase the bent levers of finance and how they are pulled. While acknowledging the challenges faced by law enforcement, it also provides concrete recommendations on how to reduce the crime associated with money laundering, empowering readers, professionals and policymakers to recognise vulnerabilities and understand what truly works in the fight against financial crime.

The criminals already know how to launder money; this is, in part, their inside story. This book is for the rest of us, who want to know how the laws that are supposed to protect us are in reality doing more damage than ever before.

Review Quotes

"The authors explore the many ways money laundering has been undertaken, often with a touch of humour. Their explanation will expose nothing to the launderers; the book's purpose is to inform the enforcers and enable them to do their jobs better - and to entertain us. The large number of techniques presented by the authors is impressive and their accounts of money laundering are fascinating." --Warren Coats, president of Economic Consulting, former adviser to several central banks and former economist at the International Monetary Fund

"This is not another mere guide or handbook but a definitive in-depth exploration of all aspects and dimensions of the art of money laundering. I congratulate the authors on successfully writing a seriously entertaining book that hooks the reader from introduction to epilogue as tenaciously as a le Carré thriller. Essential reading for all professionals." --David Probert, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence expert

"This witty, erudite romp through the history of money laundering takes the reader from ancient China to Al Capone to cryptocurrency. It's a panorama of fraud, from the brilliant to the mind-bogglingly stupid. Highly recommended for students of finance, banking and law and anyone who likes to marvel at human criminal ingenuity." --Nina Burleigh, New York Times-bestselling author and adjunct professor at NYU's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute

"A rip-roaring ride through stealing, scrubbing and stashing." --Jamison Firestone, human rights and anti-corruption lawyer

About the Author

George Cottrell is a British financier and political strategist. In 2016, at the Republican National Convention, he was arrested on allegations of a money-laundering conspiracy. He now leads Geostrategy.com, advising political parties and governments globally. All his proceeds from the book will be donated to charitable causes. Lawrence Burke Files is an international financial investigator, due diligence expert and instructor who has handled cases in over 130 countries. He brings his practical investigative and problem-solving experience to his lectures on due diligence, AML, finance, risk management and anti-corruption. Prior to founding FE&E, Inc., Inc., he served as the director of corporate finance for investment bank American National. He is the author of the award-winning book Due Diligence For The Financial Professional, 2nd Edition.