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This study aims to illustrate and determine how illegally obtained funds are laundered through online platforms and companies in different economic sectors in the digital age.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to illustrate and determine how illegally obtained funds are laundered through online platforms and companies in different economic sectors in the digital age.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative analysis approach using purpose sampling methods, including 21 semi-structured interviews with prevention experts, compliance officers and convicted cybercriminals, resulted in the determination of concrete money-laundering methods involving the employment of online platforms provided by companies and institutions in different economic sectors.
Findings
The current study focuses on various companies in different economic segments that mitigate cyber laundering and the anti-money laundering measures that can be adopted. Therefore, this paper provides a detailed discussion and analysis on how money launderers avoid being detected. Both preventive and criminal perspectives are taken into consideration.
Originality/value
By identifying the gaps in the current anti-money-laundering mechanisms, it will provide compliance officers, legislators and law enforcement agencies with an in-depth insight into how cyber laundering operates in various economic sectors.
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Keywords
As decentralized finance (DeFi) has collected substantial promotion, investment and cryptographic development as a new model for numerous financial operations over the last…
Abstract
Purpose
As decentralized finance (DeFi) has collected substantial promotion, investment and cryptographic development as a new model for numerous financial operations over the last months. As DeFi models and technology are quite unique, authorities have not been engaged much yet. However, these non-regulated financial markets will be overlooked for no long by the regulators. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to analyse and evaluate the new challenges for financial crime compliance which need to be tackled very soon.
Design/methodology/approach
The research relied on secondary sources of data, using secondary research to collect archival data in the form of documents. Content and thematic analyses were used to synthesize the collected data
Findings
DeFi is considered to be one of the major steps towards adopting crypto masses. It is expected that DeFi will play a significant role in future and provide the present banking system with a feasible alternative. Therefore, it is crucial that the DeFi industry must address the main risks to ensure its “user” full compliance.
Originality/value
This research is the first to analyse the emerging challenges of fighting financial crime in the DeFi ecosystem.
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The current COVID-19 pandemic has already proven to be one of the world’s deadliest crises in modern history with far-reaching impacts on different sectors of the global economy…
Abstract
Purpose
The current COVID-19 pandemic has already proven to be one of the world’s deadliest crises in modern history with far-reaching impacts on different sectors of the global economy. The financial sector is among the most widely affected by the economic crisis occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the most notable effects is related to financial crime. It is against this backdrop that the present study aimed to examine the impact of COVID-19 on financial institutions with the main focus being on financial crime
Design/methodology/approach
Its twofold objectives were to critically examine the global emerging patterns of financial crime and their association with the COVID-19 pandemic; and to investigate how financial institutions across the world have been responding to, managing, and dealing with the emerging patterns of financial crime brought about by (or linked to) the COVID-19 pandemic.
Findings
It was found out that as the pandemic ravages the world and pushes people and businesses to the very limits of their endurance, many financial sector stakeholders and players are responding in ways that put the entire financial sector and all its stakeholders at great risk. Specifically, COVID-19 pandemic has led to the emergence of new patterns of financial crime that were either unheard of or were not as rampant in the past.
Originality/value
Both the descriptive and correlation analyses produced by this study provide new insights into the impact of COVID-19 on financial institutions with a main focus on financial crime.
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This paper aims to examine the framework for the regulation of crypto assets in Germany, the UK and Switzerland focusing on anti-money laundering (AML) laws. It comprehensively…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the framework for the regulation of crypto assets in Germany, the UK and Switzerland focusing on anti-money laundering (AML) laws. It comprehensively addresses the risks of crypto assets and the benefits along with the changes made to the existing laws to regulate cryptocurrency.
Design/methodology/approach
Qualitative data was analyzed to collect information for the case study and to challenge/examine the existing data and statistics.
Findings
The findings suggested that the AML laws are additionally modified to include the cryptocurrencies violations of the legislation, as it is the decentralized financial systems generating opportunities for crimes and terror financing. The moderate or mild laws were found in Switzerland following Germany and the UK has the most traditional and stringent laws of money laundering.
Originality/value
The paper has focused on the comparison of the three states in their AML laws comprehensively along with their attitude toward the crypto businesses.
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Keywords
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the effect of the issuance, adoption and use of digital currencies on economic sanctions with the focus being on the increasing risk of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the effect of the issuance, adoption and use of digital currencies on economic sanctions with the focus being on the increasing risk of sanction evasion. The research sought to answer three key questions: What is the effect of digital currencies on economic sanctions? To what extent does the adoption and use of digital currencies increase the risk of sanction evasion? What remedial measures can be taken to enforce compliance with sanctions in the wake of increased adoption and use of digital currencies?
Design/methodology/approach
The research relied on secondary sources of data, using secondary research to collect archival data in the form of documents. Content and thematic analyses were used to synthesise the collected data.
Findings
It was found that digital currencies have significantly increased the risk of sanction evasion. This is because they facilitate the anonymous or pseudonymous conduct of international commercial transactions, which are hard or impossible to detect and track.
Originality/value
This research is the first to explore the different ways in which digital currencies as whole – and not just cryptocurrencies – affect compliance with economic sanctions.
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Keywords
The aim of this paper is to assess the relevance of cryptocurrencies with regard to the money laundering risk on the market and to present widespread money laundering techniques…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to assess the relevance of cryptocurrencies with regard to the money laundering risk on the market and to present widespread money laundering techniques and recognizable patterns of abuse. In addition, this paper aims to find an answer to the question to what extent the measures of the fifth EU Anti-Money Laundering Directive (AMLD) as well as other appropriate preventive measures are sufficient to reduce the money laundering risk in the area of virtual currencies (VC).
Design/methodology/approach
Firstly, the analysis requires a consideration of the theoretical foundations of money laundering methods, as well as a presentation of the technical foundations of cryptocurrencies and their ecosystem. Secondly, it is discussed to what extent VC are suitable for money laundering, which characteristics enable them to launder money and which new money laundering techniques result from this. In addition, a comparison of different money laundering risk classification is done in relation to VC from the perspective of different actors in the financial market.
Findings
Owing to their simple electronic storage and transferability, crypto assets pose a concrete risk of money laundering. Their inclusion in the fifth AMLD was therefore a necessary step by the European legislator. However, the question arises to whether the directive and the further preventive measures presented in this paper sufficiently fulfil the objective of reducing the money laundering risk in relation to VC. One positive aspect is the inclusion of the crypto custody business as a financial service in the German Banking Act. According to the definition in Section 1 (1a) sentence 2 no. 6, the offering of wallets is subject to authorization and the offering party becomes an obligated party within the meaning of the Germany Money Laundering Act. From a supervisory point of view, the new licensing requirement is very much welcomed, as the custody of private cryptographic keys entails considerable risks. However, non-custodian wallet providers who do not store the private keys of their users, are not covered. A closer analysis of the amending directive to the fourth EU AMLD reveals that other relevant players in the crypto market, such as mixer and tumbler services, are also not covered.
Originality/value
It is quite clear that cryptocurrencies and the blockchain technology will continue to accompany one in the coming years. Further credit institutions arising in the market exposed to the described risks will be seen. The paper will therefore present and evaluate possible risk reduction/options for anti-money laundering for new and existing financial institutions.
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Keywords
Christoph Sowada and Iwona Kowalska-Bobko
As all countries in the world, Polish health care system has to challenge four fundamental transformations: demographic, technological, epidemiological and cultural. Each of them…
Abstract
As all countries in the world, Polish health care system has to challenge four fundamental transformations: demographic, technological, epidemiological and cultural. Each of them generates serious threats for the sustainability of the system. The Polish society is ageing even faster than other in the European Union. For the sustainability of the system, the ageing of the population is a double challenge: on the expenditure side and on the financing side.
The Polish health care system is characterised by three negative features: under-financing of health care, misguided organisation of the health sector and health care entities and a dramatic shortage of health care professionals. The share of GDP devoted to health has remained constant over the last years at the level of 6.3%–6.7%. Poland has one of the lowest rates of practicing doctors and nurses in the EU countries. Lack of attractiveness of the medical professions caused by consistently low wages has created a huge generation gap.
Looking from the perspective of cost-effectiveness, we must to state, that the system, with its small financial outlays, provides a relatively high level of health for the population. However, it does not mean that better results could not be achieved. The majority of the public hospitals run in the form of independent public health care units that are highly inefficient and indebted. All attempts to restructure the sector and to solve the problem of arrears of the public hospitals failed so far.
To face the challenges, Poland must change its health policy. An increase in the sector's financing is needed, bearing in mind that increasing outlays alone is certainly not enough to solve all problems and secure sustainability. Deep structural and organisational changes are necessary. Unfortunately, politicians avoid making difficult but necessary decisions, e.g., drastic restructuring of the hospital sector, preferring above all to increase public spending on health.
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