journal article
LitStream Collection
Home
Hall, Alexandra; Antonopoulos, Georgios A.
2017 Journal of Financial Crime
PurposeThis paper aims to offer detailed preliminary data and analysis that focuses specifically on the structures and financial aspects of the UK cocaine market.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is based on in-depth interviews with – among others – four active criminal entrepreneurs involved in powder cocaine supply in the UK. Furthermore, along with a review of relevant literature and open sources, in-depth interviews were undertaken with a range of experts with knowledge of the cocaine market. These experts include law enforcement agents and independent academics/researchers who have researched the cocaine market in the UK and internationally.FindingsThe cocaine market is a fragmented business dependent on networks of individual entrepreneurs and groups. At the core of collaborations often lie family, ethnic or kinship relationships and relationships forged within legal businesses and in prison. Capital investment practices in this market are flexible, “messy” and mutating, and money comes from a range of different sources. Credit is an integral feature of the cocaine business in the UK. The financial management of the cocaine trade is a result of (and reflects) a number of factors, such as the fragmented and decentralised nature of the trade.Originality/valueEmpirical research into financial aspects of organised crime manifestations is important for the assumptions that are part of public debate to be tested. In addition, understanding the broader range of financial aspects of organised crime is an important component of the process of crimes for gain and can contribute to both better investigation and better prevention.
2017 Journal of Financial Crime
PurposeThis paper aims to articulate the complexities posed by tax havens and offshore financial centres (OFCs) in the global fight against financial crimes such as tax avoidance and money laundering. It suggests possible measures to mitigate the effect of tax avoidance on economic development of countries, especially less developed poor countries.Design/methodology/approachData were evaluated using examples and case studies drawn from tax havens and OFCs in newspaper reports to demonstrate how illicit proceeds of crime are spirited out of countries for safe custody in tax haven jurisdictions around the globe. The author also carried out a scoping review of the literature to delineate the correlation between tax havens, OFCs and the growth in financial crimes such as tax avoidance and money laundering.FindingsThere is a close correlation that bank secrecy laws in OFCs fuel the growth of financial crimes such as tax avoidance and money laundering around the globe. The findings also suggest that while imposition of sanctions on countries which transgress international financial regulatory regimes is an essential component in the international efforts against financial crimes, they need to be enforced on all states so that they are not seen as politicized and subsequently undermined.Research limitations/implicationsIt is important that states work in tandem to initiate desired regimes to address financial crimes but enunciating regimes alone cannot generate a far reaching impact unless they are enforced against all transgressing states.Practical implicationsThe paper has practical implications for states, people, governments, oversight institutions, markets and other stakeholders because it unravels varied issues relating to tax avoidance, money laundering and policies that need to be adopted to address these challenges.Social implicationsThe paper draws attention to the impact of asymmetric information and data generation capacity in some countries on tax avoidance and other financial crimes and the need for international harmonization of tax and AML regimes.Originality/valueThe issues explored in this paper help to highlight the challenges posed by tax havens and OFCs for economic development of countries. While the paper was undertaken by the review of primary and secondary data, it offers important contributions that could potentially enhance the fight against tax avoidance.
Kumari, Prity; Pattanayak, Jamini Kanta
2017 Journal of Financial Crime
PurposeIn the shadow of global financial crisis, practice of earnings management can be hazardous for the growth and development of an economy, especially for a developing economy like India. This empirical study is performed to analyse the presence of earnings management practices in Indian public and private commercial banking industry. This study also aims at developing a framework for the three-way relationship existing between the variables of corporate governance, earnings management practices and firm performance.Design/methodology/approachData have been collected for a period of 11 financial years (2003-2013) from Prowess (Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy) 4.14 database. A bank-based accrual model has been used for calculating earnings management practices. OLS regression has been used for analysing degree of interdependence among variables of corporate governance, earnings management practices and financial performance.FindingsThe analysis supports the fact that there is the existence of income increasing earnings management practices in Indian commercial banks. It is also observed that corporate government practices (viz. board characteristics, audit practices and performance-based remuneration) basically work as restricting variables for earnings management practices. It is evident from the analysis that market-based firm performance variables (viz. PE ratio, yield and profit after tax) are significantly related to earnings management and corporate governance system.Practical implicationsThe finding of this study will help in monitoring and controlling fraudulent earnings management practices existing in Indian commercial banks.Originality/valueThis study is the initial research about the presence of earnings management practices in Indian commercial banks.
Mustafa Bakri, Haniza Hanim; Mohamed, Norazida; Said, Jamaliah
2017 Journal of Financial Crime
PurposeThis paper aims to evaluate the effects of fraud risk elements and integrity on asset misappropriation in the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP). In addition, this research also examines whether integrity moderates the relationship between fraud risk elements and asset misappropriation.Design/methodology/approachData are gathered from the responses of the questionnaires distributed to the RMP. A total of 200 questionnaires were distributed based on simple random selection from five RMP centres in the capital city. Out of 200 questionnaires distributed, only 189 were returned.FindingsThe findings indicate that the existence of fraud risk elements significantly affects the incident of asset misappropriation. An interesting finding was made that integrity is negatively related to asset misappropriation. This implies that integrity is an important value in minimising the occurrence of asset misappropriation. The results also indicate that minimising fraud risk elements is crucial in reducing the incident of asset misappropriation.Originality/valueThis present paper contributes to the literature by investigating a commonly proposed but underexplored elements of integrity in mitigating fraud. Incorporating integrity and fraud risk elements simultaneously in a single framework in context of RMP would enhance the understanding and will be able to provide a framework for practitioners on how to mitigate the incident of fraud.
Albrecht, Chad; Morales, Victor; Baldwin, Jack Kristian; Scott, Steven Deron
2017 Journal of Financial Crime
PurposeThe paper aims to report on the single largest peer-to-peer lending scandal in the history of China. The authors provide details on how the case was perpetrated. The authors also provide details as to how investors were fraudulently manipulated in the scam. Finally, the authors provide updates on recent regulation in China in the peer-to-peer lending industry.Design/methodology/approachThis is a theoretical paper that provides a better understanding of both Ponzi schemes and fraudulent practices in the peer-to-peer industry.FindingsWhile the Ponzi scheme has been around for many years, fraud perpetrators continue to find new ways to use the scheme to manipulate and take advantage of investors. The case of Ezubao provides important insight for both regulators, academics, investors and financial advisors.Originality/valueEzubao, a start-up in an industry with little to no regulation, provides a textbook example of common fraud symptoms (or red flags). The deception was enacted through Ezubao’s bold advertising scheme and falsified appearance of success and government support. This was enough to brilliantly deceive over 900,000 susceptible investors. While Ezubao was one of the first peer-to-peer lending scandals to be uncovered, it certainly will not be the last.
Gilmour, Nicholas; Hicks, Tristram; Dilloway, Simon
2017 Journal of Financial Crime
PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine – using crime script analysis – the practical effectiveness of internationally endorsed and universally recognised counter-terrorism financing (CTF) standards in preventing the movement of money for the purposes of terrorism. The paper does not seek to examine the originating circumstances of terrorist finances or how laundered value is assigned.Design/methodology/approachPreliminary evaluation focuses on the discrepancies between the practices of money laundering and terrorist financing. Following an introduction to crime scripts, internationally endorsed anti money laundering (AML)/CTF practices are discussed to identify the process used to trace, prevent and limit money laundering and terrorist financing. Several terrorist financing case studies are then aligned to the process of crime script analysis to determine whether existing AML/CTF practices are effective in preventing terrorist financing.FindingsThe AML model “Placement, layering, integration” is only relevant to CTF in the comparatively rare cases when the origin of the money is crime. This creates a false sense of security through over reliance on AML/CTF for CTF purposes. A crime script approach can be applied to terrorist finance, but it is currently hindered by insufficient reporting of low level financing of terrorists, their addresses and associates. Law enforcement make insufficient use of financial intelligence – as a routine practice – in their crime and terrorist investigations; they have not adopted parallel investigation as a routine approach and consequently remain largely unconnected with the AML/CTF regime.Practical implicationsUtilising terrorist financing case studies, this paper identifies that existing AML/CTF international standards and practices are not adequate for controlling the movement of funds for financing terrorism because of the lack of focus on a specific script that aligns to known terrorist finance methodologies. While the paper identifies that existing AML/CTF international standards are thorough, the process underpinning the financing of terrorism is too dissimilar to the process of money laundering, namely, placement, layering, and integration, to support practices associated with terrorism prevention and detection.Originality/valueThis paper provides an examination of the practicalities behind the countering of terrorist financing from a compliance and investigative perspective. The paper is of interest to those involved in policy, compliance and investigations associated with terrorist financing.
Bolimos, Ioannis A.; Choo, Kim-Kwang Raymond
2017 Journal of Financial Crime
PurposeThis paper aims to determine the level of online fraud offending within an Australian jurisdiction and how to best apply resources to combat it.Design/methodology/approachEmpirical data were provided by an Australian law enforcement agency, and qualitative responses were obtained from the parties involved in the crimes themselves (the victims, the offenders and the nominated law enforcement agency).FindingsAlthough there was variance between the ages of the online fraud victims, there was a slightly higher chance of an older member of the population falling victim to an offender than that of a younger person. The number of a particular gender reporting an instance of cybercrime in a given area can be higher if the total number of participants in that area was also high. Older victims were more likely to lose larger amounts of money to online fraud. Furthermore, it was found that when the non-gender identifiable data were removed, this increased to over 80 per cent.Originality/valueExisting literature on online fraud and criminal offending generally focused on the quantitative aspects of measuring offending, which does not give an indication into the “why” component of the study: why are these offences being committed; why do these offenders pick particular victims; and why do the victims fall for such ruses? In this paper, the authors combined the qualitative responses obtained from those parties involved in the crimes themselves (the victims, the offenders and the nominated law enforcement agency) with a quantitative examination of the crime figures provided by an Australian law enforcement agency.
2017 Journal of Financial Crime
PurposeThis paper aims to update our understanding of the public’s opinion of white-collar crime and explains perceptions of white-collar crime using self-interest, political affiliation and in-group/out-group characteristics.Design/methodology/approachA state-wide phone survey of adults in North Carolina was conducted, and 421 adults responded. They provided their views of white-collar crime, the need for government intervention and whether they were more concerned about white-collar crime in the public or private sector.FindingsIn the survey, 74 per cent of the responders agreed or strongly agreed that white-collar crime is one of the leading problems in this decade, and 74 per cent of the responders suggested that it is not being adequately addressed by our legislators. Evidence suggests that individuals who are conservative, have high confidence in their economic circumstances or are demographically similar to stereotypical white-collar criminals perceive white-collar crime to be less of a problem than individuals without these characteristics.Originality/valueThis study shows that perceptions of the dangers of white-collar crime have increased since its inception. Additionally, this study extends our understanding about why certain demographics are more likely to care (and why high-ranking politicians are less likely to care) about white-collar crime.
2017 Journal of Financial Crime
PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss critical success factors for the enormous development that internal auditing (IA) as “third line of defense” (IIA, 2016) and one of the strongest anti-fraud controls has reached within the past decades. Additionally, weaknesses of IA are identified and evaluated to allow further improvement.Design/methodology/approachThe anti-fraud requirements stipulated in the “International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing” are confronted with empirical data about the current situation of the IA as anti-fraud control. The empirical data were extracted from global sources such as “Fraud Reports” (Association of Certified Fraud Examiners – ACFE) and “common body of knowledge (CBOK)” studies. The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA).FindingsOver the years, IA has been continuously increasing its auditing quality and effectiveness with new analytical methods, specialized software tools and professional certifications. But all these efforts have hardly been reflected in statistical or research data, especially not in the listing of the top sources of fraud detection. The “ACFE-Fraud Report 2016” revealed that IA is now – for the first time ever – second among the initial detections of occupational frauds (financial statement fraud, corruption and asset misappropriation) worldwide. This positive trend of global anti-fraud auditing was probably no “one-hit wonder”, but a result of a lengthy process of professionalization of IA.Originality/valueIt is hoped that this paper will facilitate the discussion about the value that IA can add within an anti-fraud management system.
Showing 1 to 10 of 13 Articles