AUSTRAC's 2011 typologies report is the fifth in an annual series of reports produced by the agency.
The 2011 report includes 20 real-life case studies illustrating how legitimate services offered by Australian businesses have been exploited for criminal purposes. By highlighting these past examples of criminal activity, the report educates Australian businesses about their money laundering and terrorism financing risks and helps them recognise and mitigate these risks.
AUSTRAC welcomes your feedback on this report, and invites you to complete this short feedback form.
Introduction (PDF version 236KB)
Report methodology (PDF version 132KB)
Typologies (Fraud, Terrorism financing, People smuggling and human trafficking) (PDF version 598KB)
Case studies
Account and deposit-taking services
1. Suspects raised funds in preparation for acts of terrorism (PDF version 182KB)
2. Suspects paid for Armenian cocaine shipments with international transfers (PDF version 165KB)
3. Jail for suspects who extorted victim for three years (PDF version 238KB)
4. Suspects jailed after using offshore scheme to avoid $4 million tax (PDF version 129KB)
5. Human trafficking victims forced to work in Melbourne brothel (PDF version 129KB)
6. Information from industry helped expose suspect funds transfers to China (PDF version 136KB)
7. Internet banking fraudsters stole thousands from customer accounts (PDF version 130KB)
8. Company avoided $200,000 GST in import/export fraud (PDF version 242KB)
9. Fake carbon credits investment scam cost Australian investors millions (PDF version 169KB)
10. Joint law enforcement investigation uncovered million dollar drug importations (PDF version 244KB)
11. Law enforcement agencies combined to foil major money laundering syndicate (PDF version 210KB)
12. Australian investors fell victim to offshore investment 'opportunity' (PDF version 130KB)
Gambling services
13. Lost wallet led to arrest of identity fraudster (PDF version 135KB)
14. Japanese nationals failed to declare $30,000 cash at airport (PDF version 132KB)
Remittance services (money transfer)
15. Use of remitters to facilitate people smuggling (PDF version 274KB)
16. Canadian drug importations hidden in foot spas (PDF version 272KB)
17. Eastern European 'card skimming' operation spanned several states (PDF version 182KB)
18. AUSTRAC information sparked law enforcement investigation into money remitter (PDF version 388KB)
19. Australian suspect laundered thousands through Turkish bank account (PDF version 258KB)
20. Money remitter sent millions of dollars in illicit cash to Hong Kong (PDF version 286KB)
Appendix A: Indicators of potential ML/TF activity (PDF version 197KB)
Appendix B: References and websites (PDF version 186KB)
Case study index (PDF version 197KB)
Glossary (PDF version 316KB)
Abbreviations (PDF version 144KB)
Feedback form (PDF version 1,064KB)
