I came across something recently that I'm not supposed to know. Before I go further, I should state that what I'm saying here is purely speculation based on minimal evidence and I'm not saying that the WTS is using this "privacy" vehicle to hide some of their considerable millions. I further cannot give you the name of the source of the person who shared this information with me. Having said all of this, please allow me to proceed with what I do know.
An ex-JW friend of mine, working as a teller in a U.S. bank recently noticed something interesting that happened in the bank they worked at. Two middle aged gentlemen conservatively dressed in suits came into the bank to open an account. Each had an attache case full of cash. There was approximately $70,000 in USD between the two attache cases. Both of the men were British citizens, on a trip over to the USA. They each wanted to open up a VISA debit card account that allowed access to the funds from any ATM machine.
As per routine, the new account manager asked them the source of the funds, and they replied that it was from a private corporation and that as foreign nationals, that US banking regulations, including the $10,000 IRS notification regulations did not apply to them. In this they were absolutely right (few people know that this is a practical way for the rich to hide their money in the USA without any reporting obligations and make interest off it.) The new accounts manager had them fill out the banking forms and told them both that two pieces of ID would need to be photocopied and kept on record at the bank. My friend the teller, was motioned over to the new accounts table to do the task of the photocopying. My friend got the passports from both, and when they opened up their wallets to get the UK driver's license, he/she noticed one of them had a NO BLOOD TRANSFUSION card in his "purse" (I guess he/she meant wallet.) He/She copied the ID, and brought it back to the table and asked them if they were enjoying their stay in America. They replied that they had only been here a few days, but were looking forward to visiting friends over here.
He/She really wanted to ask them if they were both Witnesses but the new account manager would not have approved, so he/she walked away. After they both left, he/she asked the account manager if she thought it was strange that two UK tourists would have two briefcases full of cash that was wrapped up in bundles and in different amounts. She said she did think it a bit odd, especially as it was not in UK currency, but in American dollars. Still, there was nothing outside of that and she told my friend it was probably just a business transaction that someone wanted to keep private.
SPECULATION
Okay, when I heard all this, I was asking myself why would at least one Witness from the UK be depositing funds in their own name in an American bank? I know there are some wealthy dubs but why would two different people be opening two different accounts? Would a dub really be involved with a "worldly" person like this? It suggests to me that they were both Witnesses. What could someone possibly gain by the actions taken by these two people unless they were hiding money from someone, or wanted a private way to get cash to someone without any records being made to American authorities? Where and how did they get their hands on so much cash? If they had only been in the country a few days, it is hard to round up that much cash from a bank. I know that for a fact. This suggests to me that someone over here had the cash waiting for them. Could that someone be the WTS?
The WTS is a tax exempt organization. It would not need to hide money from the IRS. Why would they have an interest in hiding money? The only thing that comes to my mind is that they may have had the intention of doing a private cash payoff to someone. Maybe I'm being too negative, and it is really all innocent.
What do you think?
(Please do not ask me for any details of the Bank, it's location, ...all of that is confidential)
Skipper