Take Action Donate

Ownership Transparency

The U.S. is the easiest place in the world for a criminal, terrorist, tax cheat, or kleptocrat to open an anonymous shell company to launder their money with impunity. Anonymous corporations are great ways to hide money and other assets — they can hold a bank account or buy a yacht. Criminals often layer anonymous corporations, with one owning another and so on, making it even harder for law enforcement to “trace the money” and figure out who is directing the company’s activity. It’s time to ending the use of anonymous shell companies as vehicles for illicit activity by requiring that the true owners of U.S. companies be disclosed at the time of formation and updated upon any change.

FACT Sheet: Business Case for Ending Anonymous Companies (February 2019)

Anonymous companies are behind just about every financial crime.  They are the vehicle of choice for laundering money obtained through illicit activity.  Schemes involving terror financing and the trafficking of drugs, illegal weapons, and humans all use anonymous companies to move money, fund operations, and allow bad actors to escape with the proceeds of their crimes and impunity.

The pervasive use of secret shell and front companies also impacts the broader economy.  As such, more and more businesses are speaking out.

Read More

FACT Sheet: Business Case for Ending Anonymous Companies (December 2018)

Anonymous companies are behind just about every financial crime.  They are the vehicle of choice for laundering money obtained through illicit activity.  Schemes involving terror financing and the trafficking of drugs, illegal weapons, and humans all use anonymous companies to move money, fund operations, and allow bad actors to escape with the proceeds of their crimes and impunity.

The pervasive use of secret shell companies has also begun to impact the broader economy.  As such, more and more businesses are speaking out.

Read More