Financial Transparency Coalition

Owners of anonymous companies registered in U.S. states are ripping off innocent people and businesses across America, says a new report by Global Witness. Drawing on 22 cases involving anonymous companies from 27 states, The Great Rip Off shows how fraudsters, mobsters, money-launderers, tax-evaders and corrupt politicians are able to use anonymously-owned American companies to cover their tracks and evade the authorities. “We looked at all sorts of crimes across the U.S. and found two things in common. They were all carried out by anonymous owners of American companies, and the authorities are spending lots of time and money trying...

Vancouver, Canada, March 18, 2014 –This year’s TED Prize winner – Charmian Gooch of Global Witness – has announced that she will use the prestigious million-dollar award “to make it impossible for criminals and corrupt dictators to hide behind anonymous companies.” The announcement was made live and online from the TED stage in Vancouver, with

And now for all of you who have been trying to explain the concept of Anonymous Companies to your Francophone friends, Global Witness has translated its very helpful briefing. S'il vous plaît n'hésitez à partager loin! http://www.globalwitness.org/sites/default/files/library/anonymous_companies_fr4.pdf.

This excellent report (cross posted and prepared by FTC Coordinating Committee member Global Witness) reinforces the necessity for transparency about the ultimate beneficial owners of companies involved in extractive deals – and NOT just the proxies or other companies in obscure ownership chains – but the real beneficial owners of companies! Findings pose a challenge for the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Click here to download this report. Azerbaijan Anonymous, a new report released today by Global Witness, reveals a shadowy figure in the oil industry of Azerbaijan, a key EU energy supplier. A little-known businessman, Anar Aliyev, has gained ownership stakes, some...