To think DP is being used by so called "friend"

[Queenjuliana]

Apologies for the long post, it takes a bit of explaining....DP has a friend who lives in Germany with his partner. DP and friend have known each other since childhood, went to school together etc. They are only in contact via social media, mainly to talk about football and reminisce about the old days. From what I can gather, the friend leads an "alternative" lifestyle. They don't have proper jobs, they smoke dope, and are self described "anarchists" ( whatever that is!) The friend's wife has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. The friend has asked my partner to set up a Go Fund me page to raise money for her. The target is £9000. Apparently he does not want to do this himself because the money cannot be traceable to him. After lots of questioning to a very defensive DP, this is what I've managed to surmise..She is getting free health care treatment in Germany for her cancer. But due to the cancer she cannot work (cleaning job I believe) So they want the funds for living expenses. Germany of course have a sickness benefit which can be claimed but I'm assuming they haven't paid anything into the scheme as they are not eligible. So why am I resentful of this kind act my DP is doing? This friend has history of coming to DP when he needs money. DP is a soft touch, very kindhearted and an easy target. He talked him into "investing" £500 in the past to some hare brained music company he was supposedly setting up. Obviously the money was never seen again. Also, why can't the friend support his own wife? I personally can't see why he expects other people to donate to their living expenses because he hasn't bothered to get a decent job, and because they haven't paid into the health insurance scheme over there. The collection is going well and they have got to £7000. On top of this, because the money has to be untraceable, the friend has to have it in cash so DP has agreed to fly to Germany with it!! I know it's not my business but it all sounds so dodgy and underhand. I have every sympathy for her cancer diagnosis but she is getting well cared for and her prognosis is good as caught early. I'm pretty sure the friend would not be doing the same for DP if the roles were reversed. AIBU to think DP is being taken for a mug and this whole thing sounds like a scam?

Bit spiteful

Really. I've just done some quick research. They're a dangerous bunch on the rise

So it's a done deal, he's going? I guess you better hope nothing bad happens.

Exactly. I've looked at the fundraiser. I recognise and personally know some of the people from my DPs larger friendship group. So the donors are genuinely people who know her and the description on the page says who and why the fundraiser is for. Up to that point it all seems OK. It just gets weird when they start talking about only being able to receive the money in cash so it's not traceable. THATS the bit I struggle with most

God. I didn't realise that 😳

Even though for some reason all their other friends were not willing to get involved due to tax reasons 😕 Surely you don't get taxed on donations from Go Fund me??! It all just sounds like total bollocks

In my EU country you get a yearly statement from the bank of all in- and outgoings which you have to declare to your tax return. I guess it's the same in Germany which is why their friends there don't want to be involved.

Your husband is an idiot. I can't believe he is being so naive.

If your friends in Germany get an audit (always happens) and that money is found out to be them defrauding the system, your husband will be implicated.
Has he heard of Interpol? sarcastic

^Surely you don't get taxed on donations from Go Fund me??!^

Of course you do. It's income and therefore liable for Income Tax.

Plus he will have no evidence that the funds were turned over to the beneficiary. Tax man will love that.

QueenJuliana, did alarm bells truly not ring for him when his alleged friend asked for untraceable cash?

Yes I think k your partner is being used

Oh OP. I do feel for you. Bet you feel like shaking your DP!

But seriously how many people take that much cash through airports for innocent reasons?

What's he going to say when he gets asked at the airport why he has so much cash on him?

Is he going to tell them he couldn't transfer the money by bank to his "Anarchist" friend as it has to be untraceable?

I suspect he isn't even going to get anywhere near Germany! Hope he's got a good solicitor!!

"FBI — Anarchist Extremism" https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/news/stories/2010/november/anarchist_111610/anarchist_111610

@Queenjuliana If he’s determined to do this, which it sounds as if he is, please convince him to at least keep receipts of all the transactions (changing the cash into Euros, etc.) and proof of his travel to wherever they live so that he can demonstrate that he didn’t empty the GFM account and keep the donations himself.

He'll be the person answering questions if it’s flagged so he needs to show that he hasn’t personally benefitted. Quite the opposite, he’s out of pocket for his travel expenses!

The title of the post was you asking if he is being used, as per your exact words a few comments below..?! So why the sarcasm?! Sorry for trying to answer your question and give an opinion on why he might be allowing it.. sheesh.

All I have to add is if I were you, I would make sure that you and your name, your bank accounts, vehicle, anything, are kept out if it completely. If this is an iilegal act, and he is arrested you do not want to also be implicated in any way. Good luck.

It's gifted income, not earned income so I would think tax free.

Are you sure you want to stay with someone who refuses to listen to any common sense, steadfastly ignores any input or concerns you have, because of some pathological need to people please?

Have you run through a likely conversation with him at security when this shows up on baggage scanners?
Why have you got this much cash sir?
Is it your own money?
Why couldn't you just do a bank transfer?
etc, but this last question is the one I think he'll get stuck on explaining without it sounding dodgy (because it is).

I'm from a family of naive, kindhearted people and can totally imagine this whole scenario so you have my sympathy.

We know someone who raised £45,000 for help with cancer treatment, seemed so genuine, but she's now in prison for scamming us all! Had the hospital photo on her GFM page too, which was set up by her mother (who also didn't know she wasn't really ill!) She was so convincing.
This absolutely sounds like a scam to me.

It is but I think anyone rational is thinking the two of you will face fraud, conspiracy to defraud, money laundering and possible terrorism related charges. You might both go to prison as you now know a crime is being committed and have helped commission it. Naive is agreeing, stupid is ignoring every single piece of advice. This is possibly the most serious crime I have seen queried in AIBU and I think many posters are frustrated you don't see how serious this could be.

Good luck explaining that to HMRC. I’m sure they@“” be super-impressed by the “I was making the money untraceable” part of the story.

Like I said upthread, my BIL did similar, ended up with a prison sentence, and got struck off from his high-earning profession. Good luck to your DP. Money laundering and tax evasion is no joke. Even if you’re a high-earning, upstanding member of society, the law still allows applies to you.

It's income, so must be declared as such.

This. Do not drive him to/collect him from the airport, Do not go to Waitrose/drive him when he collects the euros. Do not go with him to the bank to collect the pounds. Do not allow that money to touch a joint account. I hope his flight was not paid for his a joint account. Keep well out of this. Being by an accessory to money that is being flown across Europe to “become untraceable” is no joke. It’s called money laundering. Same for the HMRC tax implications—sounds like DP is going to try to evade tax on this one. Stay well clear (although I’m pretty sure GFM will automatically inform HMRC, so he’ll receive a bill).

No. RTFT.

As long as it is less than 10,000 Euros you don't have to declare it. I read on several different websites that gifts of cash from Europeans to people living in the UK is not taxable.

https://www.litrg.org.uk/tax-nic/income-tax/working-out-what-taxable/gifts-and-loans#:~:text=You%20do%20not%20pay%20tax,you%20earn%20on%20that%20account

https://irak.diplo.de/resource/blob/1095904/895f918be3dcc930b1284481339cf439/merkblatt-barmittel-en-data.pdf

True, you don’t have to declare it. But the act of making €10,000 “untraceable” by giving it to someone else, and asking them to fly the cash abroad, IS money laundering. Money laundering IS illegal, even if it is under €10,000. There is no “you can money launder up to €10,000 before you’re prosecuted” law.