To think this sounds like money laundering?

[Beetleback]

There’s a takeaway shop on our high street that is constantly being refurbished. It occasionally opens for a few weeks or months, then closes again for a long, elaborate refurbishment. This has happened maybe four times in the last few years.

There’s a lot of muttering locally about money laundering, but I really don’t understand how that would work? Can anyone explain it to me?

This.

Oh there is a shop like that here, the building was renovated 10ish years ago and we are on our 5th takeaway well 5th in progress, It's really dodgy.

Yeah more likely both in that the money being laundered is from drug sales.

I’m convinced all the vape shops are something similar, there’s no need whatsoever for the size of premises they have and they’re always empty.

The vape shops in my area lots have shut but I agree with you they were more than likely in on it as there was more than the industry could support.

And also dodgy vape shops you have no idea what's in the vape products you are buying.

There’s a few like that near here, though one was recently repossessed so I assume all the kitchen equipment was removed by whoever was owed money, therefore the refit in that case might be genuine!

I’ve always struggled to get my head around money laundering, even having watched several series of Ozark, so appreciate the explanations in this thread.

Out of interest should suspected laundering be reported to police, trading standards or HMRC?!

If you are reporting as a member of the public, it's Crimestoppers.

Probably the bank who funded the asset finance agreement - no doubt kicking themselves now and no chance of getting their money back.

We have a Turkish place, only accepts cash payments, only pays staff in cash. All very dodgy .

Should also add that whilst it's tempting to think every barber shop / nail shop / etc is money laundering for drug money / MDS / HT they probably aren't.

Tax evasion as a predicate offence more likely, but that's another story.

It's easy to look at the stereotypes and miss the big players.

My hairdresser only takes cash she rents her chair they don't have a machine .

They pretend they were open when they weren't. So the paperwork would show they were open and trading and taking in a lot of cash, when actually the doors were locked and the lights off.

Illegal money masquerading as legit money. From the moment it hits the bank account it's treated like legit income.

Chinese ‘pub’ in the village next to where I used to live was only really open when the VAT inspector called . There was a baffled review on TrioAdvisor for a while by a legitimate would be customer who managed to get in one day. They did serve him, but very very slowly and the food was ahem not very nice. The proprietors’ child apparently ran around and shouted in his ear for extra discouragement .

The review was up for some time, a source of great amusement to us locals who ‘knew ‘ what was up . I don’t know how they got away with it with the VAT inspection, though …..🙈

I'm not saying she is but she is more than likely tax dodging than laundering, as machines are easy to get hold of these days.

The hairdresser I take the DC to is like that. Cash only, no machine.

Although if I was going to suspect them of anything dodgy, I’d be more inclined to suspect tax evasion than money laundering.

If any of you take illegal drugs, you are part of the problem.

Maybe something to ask the next election candidates what they plan to do about it.

Sad isn't it.
The Turkish barber by us can't be dodgy surely? I hope, it's always rammed full of men getting cuts and shaves, although I suppose they could say they earn twice as much as they do, they are very popular though.

Is this in london? I live near a place where this exact thing has happened? It seems so dodgy

While yes it could be a sign of money laundering most restaurant businesses do fail before / shortly after opening.

Yes, it's a way to wash money. Drug money, human trafficking money. In my area, the main fake businesses used to do this are nail bars, takeaways, fake Turkish barbers (they aren't Turks, either) restaurants, vape shops and hand car washes.

I always think this about the yoghurt places, milk bars and pop up dessert places

Probably. We have several shops in our town that are cover for money laundering. A barbers, restaurant, tanning salon, Chinese medicine healer, local jeweller and bed shop (?!).
I assume the local authority doesn't have the resources to prosecute but it's fascinating seeing them survive with no customers year after year.

And a vape shop. That's dodgy as hell. Used to be sandwich shop in the middle of nowhere that couldn't make sandwiches when I walked in.

Blimey if there's so much of this going on, surely the authorities must know about it. Or do they just turn a blind eye?

Blind eye and a lot make a choice to ignore to due to the ethnicity of the people involved.

Ive just looked at Trip advisor for the always shut pub restaurant. They now have lots of glowing reviews, but oddly all from people who only have only submitted one or two reviews.