#6  The Shame of Shell Companies

Loading player...
The empty vessels that are moving billions of dollars supporting criminals.

In this episode, we’re diving into a topic that’s both mysterious and infuriating:
the use of shell companies, which involves secret wealth, global corruption, and the reason why your country might be losing billions in tax revenue every year.

The real shock is that the world’s richest economies are quietly the world’s biggest enablers. It’s not just small islands — it’s the big players that set the rules and then exploit them

Enter the fray and take up the fight.
Chapters
  • 00:02 Introduction to Shell Companies
  • 01:55 How Shell Companies Enable Money Laundering
  • 03:05 Global Hotspots for Shell Companies
  • 03:40 The Real-World Impact of Shell Companies
  • 05:30 Why Governments Allow Shell Companies
  • 06:30 Challenges in Regulating Shell Companies
  • 07:14 The Effectiveness of Beneficial Ownership Registers
  • 09:00 Conclusion and Call to Action
Season 1 / Episode 6 13 Aug English South Africa Documentary · Business

Other recent episodes

Are we fighting crime or feeding the system? | Pieter Rossouw

Rethinking the RBA, AML effectiveness, and UBO failures. In this hard-hitting episode, Dawn Pretorius is joined by seasoned financial-crime expert Pieter Rossouw to unpack whether our global AML systems are truly fighting illicit finance — or unintentionally fuelling it. From the misuse of the risk-based approach, to the startling ineffectiveness…
Season 1 / Episode 10 52 min

The Compliance Crunch: Tech, Risk & Regulation | Jonnie Davis

Where technology, crime, and compliance collide. A sharp, investigative podcast that exposes how technology is reshaping the global fight against money laundering. Hosted by Dawn Pretorius, The Laundromat tackles the fast-evolving world of AML through expert conversations, real-world cases, and bold questions about regulation, innovation, and the launderers who always…
Season 1 / Episode 9 43 min

Grey list, global scams, and AML realities | Bela Carvalho-Olivier

A candid, insider view of AML’s wins, failures and future. ✅ South Africa’s greylisting journey — are we really out of the woods? ✅ The rise of scams as a global, multi-billion-dollar industry. ✅ The real challenges faced by AML professionals on the ground. ✅ Whether SMEs and non-financial businesses…
Season 1 / Episode 8 32 min

Hawala: The Invisible Artery of Illicit Finance

Hawala is more than a remittance tool - it's a silent counter-economy. Rooted in ancient trust-based systems, the hawala system allows funds to travel across borders without ever entering the formal financial system. For financial criminals, hawala is an off-the-books express lane. For AML professionals, it's the ultimate blind spot…
Season 1 / Episode 7 13 min

Tick-a-box vs Outcomes - are documented risk assessments necessary?

Don't give me rules, give outcomes; don't ask for risk assessments. This episode explores the effectiveness or otherwise of rules-based legislation versus principles-based legislation intended for anti-money laundering. Will financial institutions find it easier to apply or not? A related regulatory requirement is to draft extensive risk assessments. Do we…
Season 1 / Episode 4 30 min