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Here are some examples: https://crimeline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Shreeve.pdf https://crimeline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Shreeve.p... https:/

Here are some examples: https://crimeline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Shreeve.pdf https://crimeline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Shreeve.p... https://crimeline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Rollins.pdf https://crimeline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Rollins.p... http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Crim/2006/2155.html http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Crim/2006/2155.html I won't abide by your requirements (cash in a van / $100m property), because those weren't my initial arguments. Money fraud through property happens. Money fraud through luxury property happens. It happens. It's rife (In the UK, especially London). Maybe the US is ahead of the curve, but I remain skeptical. I didn't ask for you to give examples of how money fraud through property could happen, I asked for you to state the simplest explanation for all these empty luxury properties existing, that isn't explained through fraud. Who is buying them? It's corruption!

credit_guy 4y ago
You are moving the goalposts. Initially you said money laundering, now you are saying fraud, or money fraud, whatever the difference would be. Or corruption. As for empty luxury properties. I live across a tower, which could be called supertall, since it's just a few feet shy of 800 ft. A penthouse unit is available for sale now for $40MM. It's not the absolute very high end of luxury, but it's very nearly there. It's nighttime now, and I can see the lights. About 80% of the units are lit. In the units on the lower floors, I can see people moving about. I think the whole thing about empty properties is mostly an urban legend. But on the other hand, until 2 years ago, I lived in an apartment where I could see directly a property owned by Leonardo DiCaprio. I've never seen the guy there. At most I could see various contractors doing various renovations, but never the actor himself. Can I ascribe the emptiness of the property to "corruption"? No. I think DiCaprio has enough money to afford to buy a unit in downtown Manhattan, and leave it empty. Are there other people like DiCaprio? Why not? The world is big. You asked me for my Occam's razor explanation. That's my Occam's razor. In our society, there's also another version of Occam's razor, and this one is a particular case of it: it's called "innocent until proven guilty", or "benefit of the doubt". I like it, and I use it. You can feel free to use the assumption of guilt. It's your prerogative.

credit_guy 4y ago

You are moving the goalposts. Initially you said money laundering, now you are saying fraud, or money fraud, whatever the difference would be. Or corruption. As for empty luxury properties. I live across a tower, which could be called supertall, since it's just a few feet shy of 800 ft. A penthouse unit is available for sale now for $40MM. It's not the absolute very high end of luxury, but it's very nearly there. It's nighttime now, and I can see the lights. About 80% of the units are lit. In the units on the lower floors, I can see people moving about. I think the whole thing about empty properties is mostly an urban legend. But on the other hand, until 2 years ago, I lived in an apartment where I could see directly a property owned by Leonardo DiCaprio. I've never seen the guy there. At most I could see various contractors doing various renovations, but never the actor himself. Can I ascribe the emptiness of the property to "corruption"? No. I think DiCaprio has enough money to afford to buy a unit in downtown Manhattan, and leave it empty. Are there other people like DiCaprio? Why not? The world is big. You asked me for my Occam's razor explanation. That's my Occam's razor. In our society, there's also another version of Occam's razor, and this one is a particular case of it: it's called "innocent until proven guilty", or "benefit of the doubt". I like it, and I use it. You can feel free to use the assumption of guilt. It's your prerogative.