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Category Archives: Financial Institutions

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Asset Search Litigation To Stay In Puerto Rico

Posted in Asset Search/Fraud Investigation, Divorce & Child Support, Financial Institutions, Privacy Laws

The complaint filed in Puerto Rico at Florea v. Bocra, U.S. District Court, District of Puerto Rico, Index No. 11-02102, basically alleges that private investigator Terry L. Gilbeau of Checkmate Investigative Services, Inc. and / or Virginia-based private investigator Nicole Bocra, had improperly searched for assets thought to be connected to a divorce. As more fully… Continue Reading

Unmasking Beneficial Owners To Identify Their Assets

Posted in Asset Search/Fraud Investigation, Financial Institutions, Money Laundering, Swiss Banks, Tax Fraud

Laundered Assets analyzes the way a beneficial owner secreted undeclared revenue in a “back-to-back” loan, (i.e. a fully collateralized loan in which the borrower and lender are one and the same).  “True Beneficial Owner” facilitated this money laundering scheme by putting a Liberian shell company to work as a nominee / intermediary.  A chart at Laundered Assets shows that True… Continue Reading

Asset Search News Roundup: March 28, 2012

Posted in Asset Search News, Financial Institutions, Identity Theft, White-Collar Crime Generally

The criminal complaint filed in U.S.A. v. Brandon Lee Price, U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania, Case No. 12-152 M, essentially claims that Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen was the target of an identity theft.  As reported at “Identity Thief Targets Billionaire Allen”, suspected identity thief Brandon Lee Price of Pittsburgh supposedly tried to illegally transfer $15,000 from Mr…. Continue Reading

Searching For Assets Via Terrorist Financing Red Flags

Posted in Asset Search/Fraud Investigation, Financial Institutions, Money Laundering

“Terrorist Financing, Money Laundering & Financial Intelligence Units” and “Transnationally Tracking The Assets Of Terrorists” discusses the Egmont Group.  The Financial Intelligence Units of the Egmont Group search for assets secreted by terrorist financiers and money launderers. Financial Intelligence Units search for these illicit assets by looking for special indicators.  The Egmont Group’s report “FIUs And… Continue Reading

Prosecutors Add To Indictment Connected To Ponzi Scheme Case

Posted in Asset Search/Fraud Investigation, Financial Institutions, Money Laundering, Securities Fraud

At “Hockey bid a factor in Beckman’s Ponzi trial”, the StarTribune analyzes the Second Superseding Indictment filed in the criminal prosecution against Jason Bo Beckman, Gerald Durand and Patrick Kiley.  This StarTribune article explains the three are accused of money laundering and other alleged crimes arising out of Trevor Cook’s securities fraud which was one… Continue Reading

Asset Search News Roundup: February 6, 2012

Posted in Asset Search News, Financial Institutions, Money Laundering, Swiss Banks, Tax Fraud

The February 6th “Asset Search News Roundup” concentrates on the possible abuse of attorney trust accounts: “Three UBS Clients Accused of Hiding Offshore Money From IRS” outlines the suspected tax fraud case against ex-San Diego tax attorney Christopher M. Rusch and Phoenix-area businessmen Stephen M. Kerr and Michael Quiel.  The three are accused of secreting… Continue Reading

Asset Search News Roundup: January 22, 2012

Posted in Asset Search News, Financial Institutions, Money Laundering

A principal of PokerStars pleads guilty and Nigerian advance fee frauds: ♦ The May 9, 2011 Asset Search News Roundup and Secreting Money Via Internet Gambling On The Isle Of Man, discussed criminal prosecutions against the principals of three internet gambling businesses.  One of the principals, Ira Rubin of PokerStars, just entered a guilty plea… Continue Reading

Revisiting A Lawsuit Against Two Private Investigators

Posted in Asset Search/Fraud Investigation, Divorce & Child Support, Financial Institutions, Privacy Laws

Lawsuit Claims PI’s Could Have Illegally Accessed Bank Info, explained that plaintiff Victoria Florea had filed two lawsuits against private investigators Nicole Bocra and Terry L. Gilbeau, president of Checkmate Investigative Services, Inc.  The first of these lawsuits was voluntarily discontinued by plaintiff Florea and her lawsuit filed October 17, 2011, then took its place…. Continue Reading

Asset Search News Roundup: January 8, 2012

Posted in Asset Search News, Divorce & Child Support, Financial Institutions, Money Laundering, Tax Fraud

The Financial Action Task Force’s frequently asked questions webpage, states “Large-scale money laundering schemes invariably contain cross-border elements.”  Large-scale money launderers are not the only ones who hide assets by utilizing cross-border or offshore elements.  Divorcing spouses, judgment debtors and anyone else, may conceal valuable assets by combining offshore elements with additional ones. These elements… Continue Reading

Lawsuit Claims PI’s Could Have Illegally Accessed Bank Info

Posted in Asset Search/Fraud Investigation, Divorce & Child Support, Financial Institutions, Privacy Laws

On January 12, 2011, my local counsel commenced a civil lawsuit in Puerto Rico against two private investigators.  One of the defendants in the January 12th lawsuit* was Mr. Terry L. Gilbeau of Rocklin, California.  Mr. Gilbeau is a newly admitted attorney, a Certified Fraud Examiner and president of the Checkmate Investigative Services Inc. private… Continue Reading

Alleging Bank Liability For Holocaust-Era Looting In Hungary

Posted in Asset Search/Fraud Investigation, Financial Institutions, Holocaust-Era Assets

A class action complaint filed in Illinois alleges that five foreign banks are liable for the Holocaust-era looting of financial accounts belonging to Hungarian Jews.  The heirs of some of the Hungarian Jews filed this complaint in the case known as Holocaust Victims of Bank Theft v. Magyar Nemzeti Bank, et. al., Index No. 10-CV-01884…. Continue Reading

Searching For Bank Accounts Secretly Opened In Switzerland

Posted in Asset Search/Fraud Investigation, Divorce & Child Support, Financial Institutions, Swiss Banks, Tax Fraud

An IRS webpage identifies U.S. residents accused of engaging UBS AG to maintain secretly opened Swiss or other foreign bank accounts: (Click On The Image To View The Webpage)* One person cited by this webpage is Ms. Lucille Abrahamsen Jackson, of Hillside New Jersey.  She reportedly concealed assets in a Swiss bank account by using… Continue Reading

Asset Search News Roundup: June 24, 2011

Posted in Asset Search News, Financial Institutions, Money Laundering, Securities Fraud

At an April 26, 2010 Moneylaundering.com article*, I basically explained that the damaged investors of a Ponzi scheme can not successfully recover money damages on the ground that a financial institution violated the Bank Secrecy Act: (To Read The Article, Click On The Image Above) This Moneylaundering.com article mentioned a 2009 lawsuit damaged investors brought… Continue Reading

Collecting Evidence Against An Ex- President Of Guatemala’s Congress

Posted in Asset Search/Fraud Investigation, Financial Institutions, Money Laundering, Public Corruption

The Ministerio Publico and the General Prosecutor of Guatemala assert that ex-president of Guatemala’s Congress Reuben Dario Morales Veliz, could have received graft payments in a public corruption scheme.  Payments believed to be connected to the alleged corruption scheme may have been laundered through Guatemalan and U.S. bank accounts. To collect evidence regarding one of… Continue Reading

Seeking Holocaust-Era Restitution From A French Railway

Posted in Asset Search/Fraud Investigation, Financial Institutions, Holocaust-Era Assets

"French Bank Agreement" indicates that Jewish Holocaust victims were paid restitution because French financial institutions had wrongfully seized Jewish-owned bank accounts during WWII.  Holocaust victims who possess claims against the French railway Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français (SNCF), might similarly receive restitution. These claimants seek compensation from SNCF because it was reportedly paid… Continue Reading

Asset Search News Roundup: May 9, 2011

Posted in Asset Forfeiture, Asset Search/Fraud Investigation, Financial Institutions, Money Laundering, White-Collar Crime Generally

Today’s “Asset Search News Roundup” is about politically exposed persons and a suspected laundering scheme. “FAQ” webpage focuses on the legal tools for freezing illicit assets dictators or other politically exposed persons might hide in Switzerland.  Via such tools, Swiss authorities recently froze $1 billion in assets believed to be connected to either Muhammad Hosni… Continue Reading

Turning To Financial Investigators During Asset Recoveries

Posted in Asset Search/Fraud Investigation, Divorce & Child Support, Financial Institutions, Swiss Banks, Tax Fraud, Using Financial Investigators

"An Asset Search In Geneva" outlines the typical legal remedies for recovering assets secreted at banks in Switzerland.  The legal remedies range from civil proceedings brought to attach bank accounts to employing criminal law tools.  These remedies are not just limited to Switzerland as they are often available in many countries around the world.  Besides… Continue Reading

Identity Theft & An Impersonator On The Phone

Posted in Asset Search/Fraud Investigation, Financial Institutions, Identity Theft, White-Collar Crime Generally

The following fact pattern has been changed for privacy reasons: Robert received dunning letters and phone calls from debt collectors because he supposedly owed more than $50,000 dollars in credit card debt.  The debt collectors alleged that various financial institutions had issued Robert seven credit cards many years ago.  These debt collectors too claimed that… Continue Reading

Using Red Flags To Recover Ponzi Proceeds

Posted in Asset Search/Fraud Investigation, Financial Institutions, Money Laundering, Securities Fraud

“Recognizing Hidden Assets, The Red Flags” explained that bankruptcy trustees, tax authorities, financial intelligence units, etc. search for concealed assets by looking for red flags of fraud or other illicit acts.  Lawsuits brought by investors damaged by Ponzi schemes also may focus on red flags, as described at “Florida Court Unlikely To Find Wachovia, Mastercard… Continue Reading

Asset Search News Roundup: February 23, 2011

Posted in Asset Search News, Financial Institutions, Money Laundering, Public Corruption

Today’s “Asset Search News Roundup” focuses on two publications by the anti-money laundering bellwether, the Financial Action Task Force.  This roundup too mentions a warning from the FinCEN financial intelligence unit about the potential movement of assets out of Egypt. The Financial Action Task Force published various reports at its website last month.  Two of… Continue Reading

Asset Search News Roundup: February 7, 2011

Posted in Asset Forfeiture, Asset Search News, Financial Institutions, Money Laundering, Public Corruption

Money mules and the former Tunisian president’s assets are covered by this "Asset Search News Roundup":  The Washington Post and FDIC previously outlined how some money launderers pretended to be employers to basically induce their so-called "employees" to wire transfer illicit funds as straw men.  These straw men commonly called money mules, were also just… Continue Reading

Seeking Swiss Bank Records At The Time Of A Divorce

Posted in Asset Search/Fraud Investigation, Divorce & Child Support, Financial Institutions, Swiss Banks

Asset protection can be as basic as forming shell companies in order to secretly maintain monies in Swiss bank accounts.  One divorcing husband who carried out this sort of scheme is described at "An Asset Search In Switzerland".  This divorcing husband had used a nominee, (i.e. an intermediary), to establish shell companies and then instructed… Continue Reading

Asset Search News Roundup: January 21, 2011

Posted in Asset Search News, Financial Institutions, Holocaust-Era Assets, Public Corruption, Tax Fraud, White-Collar Crime Generally

The January 21st "Asset Search News Roundup" talks about tracking Nazi-looted art; a proposed rule for detecting bank deposits by foreigners; and the Haitian money trail. The Swiss have made available on the Internet the "FDHA/FDFA Report on the State of Work on looted Art during the National Socialist era, in particular, on the subject… Continue Reading

India’s Largest Suspected Securities & Accounting Fraud

Posted in Asset Search/Fraud Investigation, Financial Institutions, Money Laundering, Securities Fraud, White-Collar Crime Generally

In his January 7, 2009 letter, Satyam Computer Services Ltd. founder and ex-chairman B. Ramalinga Raju wrote that Satyam had overstated its profits.  As a 2009 Reuters article observed, Mr. Raju’s January 7th letter indicated that approximately $1 billion or 94% of Satyam’s cash on its books was a fictitious asset.  This article also mentioned… Continue Reading