Although the practice of disguising the illicit origins of money dates back thousands of years, the concept of money laundering as a multidisciplinary topic with social, economic, political and regulatory implications has only gained prominence since the 1980s. This groundbreaking volume offers original, state-of-the-art research on the current money laundering debate and provides insightful predictions and recommendations for future developments in the field. The contributors to this volume academics, practitioners and government representatives from around the world offer a number of unique perspectives on different aspects of money laundering. Topics discussed include the history of money laundering, the scale of the problem, the different types of money laundering, the cost to the private sector, and the effectiveness of anti-money laundering policies and legislation. The book concludes with a detailed and insightful synthesis of the problem and recommendations for additional steps to be taken in the future. Students, professors and practitioners working in economics, banking, finance and law will find this volume a comprehensive and invaluable resource.

A significant proportion of serious crime is economically motivated. Almost all financial crimes will be either motivated by greed, or the desire to cover up misconduct. This Handbook addresses financial crimes such as fraud, corruption and money laundering, and highlights both the risks presented by these crimes, as well as their impact on the economy. The contributors cover the practical issues on the topic on a transnational level, both in terms of the crimes and the steps taken to control them. They place an emphasis on the prevention, disruption and control of financial crime. They discuss, in eight parts, the nature and characteristics of economic and financial crime, The enterprise of crime, business crime, the financial sector at risk, fraud, corruption, The proceeds of financial and economic crime, and enforcement and control. Academics interested in criminology, law, as well as business and legal studies students will find this book to be an invaluable resource. Practitioners, including lawyers, compliance and risk managements, law enforcement officers, and policy makers will also find the points raised to be of use.

The overarching aim of this book is to bring order to the subjects of money laundering and of the anti-money laundering frameworks that have been written over the past thirty years. It provides scholars, practitioners and policy makers with a guide to what is known of the subject thus far. The book examines critically the underlying assumptions of research and of policy-making in the field and offers a systematic review of the most important policy and academic literature on the subject.

This Research Handbook on Transnational Crime is an interdisciplinary, up-to-date guide to this growing field, written by an international cohort of leading scholars and experts. It covers all the major areas of transnational crime, providing a well-rounded, detailed discussion of each topic, and includes chapters focusing on responses to transnational crime in specific regions.

. . . a stimulating look at the hard work done in many specialisms that collectively seek to combat money laundering. Sally Ramage, The Criminal Lawyer While there is much noise about the control of money laundering, there are few whose work is able to rise above the din and in clear notes contribute in a constructive manner to the debate. This work is not only an intelligent discussion of many of the substantive issues relating to the control of money laundering, but a great deal more. Drawing on systems theory and seeing the control of money laundering particularly from the standpoint of technology as complex and integral to the proper and effective operation of financial institutions, the author addresses in a novel and practical way the design and management of risk based compliance. The theory is tested, not only in terms of viable technology, but also in an actual case study involving real issues in a bank. Consequently, those concerned with the formulation of policy, the design of controls and procedures and the implementation of such will find the contribution that this book makes of great significance. Barry Rider, Bryan Cave LLP, UK This book avoids the usual trap of interminably listing AML war stories. Instead Dr. Demetis presents a solid theoretical foundation for AML research and practice. He gives a damning critique of the way so-called technological solutions are used uncritically by some AML professionals, and analyses the risk-based approach, describing its problems and ways of avoiding them. He presents a fascinating in-depth case study of a financial institution, and a short case of a bank using technology to improve its True Positive Rate substantially to 17 per cent. Ian Angell, London School of Economics, UK Dr Demetis makes a great contribution to our understanding of anti-money laundering at both a systems and practical level. [He] writes as someone who not only thinks deeply about these issues but, as the in-depth case examples show, has tried to see how far technology can address some audacious goals. Readers will learn that while risk-based approaches to anti-money laundering have been an interesting regulatory development, practical implementation, despite the hype of technology vendors, is still at a primordial state . Michael Mainelli, Gresham College and Z/YEN Group, UK This insightful book examines the influence of information systems on anti-money laundering (AML). It builds on systems theory in order to develop a coherent theoretical framework that can be used for AML research. By using a case study of a major financial institution in the EU-area, a number of technological influences on AML are deconstructed and are used to examine the role that technology plays within AML. The book provides a systems theoretical description of the effects of technology on AML and offers considerations on the risk-based approach the most important contemporary evolution within regulatory initiatives on AML and terrorism financing. Technology and Anti-Money Laundering will appeal to researchers of financial crime and AML as well as those interested in information systems and systems theory. A number of considerations for practitioners are also discussed, including the risk-based approach and the integration of AML-technology in financial institutions, as well as an important data-mining application. Money Laundering Reporting Officers (MLROs) in financial institutions and central bankers will also find much of interest in this book.

Effectively implement comprehensive anti-money laundering regulations Handbook of Anti-Money Laundering details the most up-to-date regulations and provides practical guidance toward implementation. While most books focus on the regulations themselves, this useful guide goes further by explaining their meaning to bank operations, and how the rules apply to real-life scenarios. The international perspective provides a broader understanding of the anti-money laundering controls that are in place worldwide, with certain country-specific details discussed in-depth. Coverage includes the Wolfsberg Principles, Financial Action Task Force guidance, the U.S. Patriot Act, and the latest from both the EU and Bank for International Settlements. The IMF estimates that two to five per cent of the global GDP – $590 billion to $1.5 trillion – is laundered every year. Globally, banks and other financial institutions have been required to put in place specific arrangements to prevent and detect money laundering and the criminal activity that underlies it. This book provides the latest regulations and guidance toward application. Understand what money laundering regulations mean in practice Reference international and country-specific rules and regulations Get up to speed on the most current regulations and practices Implement the most effective anti-money laundering measures In response to the increased monitoring and regulation, money launderers have become more sophisticated at disguising the source of their funds. Financial institutions' employees must be ever more aware of what they're facing, and how to deal with it, making actionable guidance a critical companion to any regulatory information. For financial institutions seeking more thorough understanding and practical advice, the Handbook of Anti-Money Laundering is a comprehensive guide.

Black Finance will be a valuable and accessible tool for scholars and academics, principally in economics, though also in politics and law, as well as for regulators and supervisory institutions.