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Money Launderers May Turn to Online Markets to Wash Funds: Federal Investigator

By Valentina Pasquali

Criminals may have started using online peer-to-peer marketplaces to wash illicit proceeds in "virtual" trade-based money laundering schemes, a federal investigator said. Mainstream e-commerce platforms that enable individuals and small firms to buy, sell and auction products may inadvertently provide a veneer of legitimacy for illicit, overpriced and under priced payments between co-conspirators, Doug Leff, special agent in charge of the FBI's division in San Juan, Puerto Rico said. Leff described the basic outline of the scheme to ACAMS moneylaundering.com. Two associates in a criminal enterprise pretend to trade goods on eBay, Craigslist and other online marketplaces that effectively function...

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