Turning cash in to online payment

[WAY-WARD]

I've been asked by a SP to convert cash into an online payment to her bank account.
I've said I'd need to see her passport and that the bank account would need to be in the same name.
I know you will all say "don't do it" but if I decide to go ahead is there anything else I can do to protect myself.

[Strawberry]

What is this conversion for?

Or do you mean she wants you to start paying for your bookings by bank tranfer?

[midspunter]

... if I decide to go ahead is there anything else I can do to protect myself.

Assuming the risk is that the account is her pimp's, there's a need to protect her, too?

[WAY-WARD]

It's cash she's made here that she wants to take back home.
It's more than £1000.

[Jonestown]

It's cash she's made here that she wants to take back home.
It's more than £1000.

I did this for a Chinese girl once, there was no come back on me, but I declined when she asked me to do it again, it’s not worth the risk that one day someone will come round asking about it, why you were sending money abroad.

[Strawberry]

It's cash she's made here that she wants to take back home.
It's more than £1000.

With all due respect to her, be very careful. I am not sure if this falls into money laundering, or something in the murky grey world of laws surrounding prostitution. I would also make sure you are absolutely certain of the origins of this cash.

[WAY-WARD]

I wouldn't allow it to become a regular thing
so I'm not too concerned about the money laundering
aspect....I just don't want to lose my money and a
good SP.

[southcoastpunter]

So she gives you cash and you make a bank transfer to her for the same amount?
It is money laundering of a sort! It’s probably cash she has received from punters and she cannot pay it in to her bank account as she will have to explain where the cash came from and maybe declare it as “earnings “ and pay tax!

So at best you will be assisting her to get round banking regulations and also maybe avoid declaring it and paying uk tax!

Once you do it, if might be less easy to resist doing it again than you think - especially as she will have your real name etc! I can’t see it stopping at just £1k - which she can earn in a week or so! IMO best to avoid altogether!

[Doc Holliday]

I wouldn't allow it to become a regular thing
so I'm not too concerned about the money laundering
aspect....I just don't want to lose my money and a
good SP.

It is technically money laundering, though at only £1000 and a one off transaction is unlikely to be flagged.

If you decide to go ahead, I would subsequently transfer the money in two separate payments of uneven amounts eg ie £540 and £460 (or possibly a little more in total than the £1000) to reduce the risk further of it being picked up as matching credits and debits. It is low risk but it also depends on your overall account profile with the bank.

Of course you also do not know the status of her bank account profile and whether her account is being monitored for suspicious activity?

[tintin100]

I can wash it for 20% commission.lol

[WAY-WARD]

Yes it would be punters money...used notes.
Her bank, one of those online one's, doesn't except
cash deposits. I suggested she use one of those prepaid
credit cards but she seems reluctant. I'm concerned I'll end
up with a load of counterfeits mixing in or simply mugged
when I leave

[Jonestown]

Yes it would be punters money...used notes.
Her bank, one of those online one's, doesn't except
cash deposits. I suggested she use one of those prepaid
credit cards but she seems reluctant. I'm concerned I'll end
up with a load of counterfeits mixing in or simply mugged
when I leave

What’s in this for you, are you thinking she won’t see you again if you do this for her ?
How did she handle her earnings upto now, what has changed that she needs to involve you ?
There are reputedly millions of pounds sent back home by people in the UK, there are high street outlets that advertise this service, why doesn’t she do what all these other people do ?

[RandomGuy99]

If you're not comfortable doing it then don't do it. Just say no



Hidden Image/Members Only

[WAY-WARD]

What’s in this for you, are you thinking she won’t see you again if you do this for her ?
How did she handle her earnings upto now, what has changed that she needs to involve you ?
There are reputedly millions of pounds sent back home by people in the UK, there are high street outlets that advertise this service, why doesn’t she do what all these other people do ?

I wouldn't want a financial reward... extra time would be good.
She's new to the game and has more cash than she expected I guess.
Regarding the prepaid card... she's afraid they'll ask her questions when she
adds funds.

[hendrix]

It sounds like you already have doubts about it. Listen to your gut.

[MaxVerstappen]

Yes it would be punters money...used notes.
Her bank, one of those online one's, doesn't except
cash deposits. I suggested she use one of those prepaid
credit cards but she seems reluctant. I'm concerned I'll end
up with a load of counterfeits mixing in or simply mugged
when I leave

If you don't really know what you are doing then it's best to leave it...

[scutty brown]

If you do this through your bank account you're likely to get reported resulting in Customs & Excise sniffing around. They'd be looking for
Tax evasion
Money laundering / hiding criminal proceeds
Modern slavery / trafficking
Being involved in brothel management

A few years back the commonest way for some of the Romanian girls to get round this was to use cash transfer schemes such as
Moneygram  External Link/Members Only
Western Union  External Link/Members Only
There were similar services run through one of the Cash Converters type of shops

Another way they used to get round it was with a prepaid credit card account registered in their home country.
There would be two cards on the account: one in the girls name, one in her husbands/partners/pimps name. Top up the card with cash in the UK, withdraw it in her home country on the second card. Suspect that may be getting harder to do now though with limits on how much cash can be paid in at a time

[WAY-WARD]

If my bank asked me why I was transferring the money I'd say to buy a car.
But that means I can't put the cash into my account the next day.
The Post Office card is even called a Travel Money Card... I'll tell
her that's the only option and that if she wants I'll take her and the
money to load it up. I can even put it in my name if she wants.

[RandomGuy99]

If my bank asked me why I was transferring the money I'd say to buy a car.
But that means I can't put the cash into my account the next day.
The Post Office card is even called a Travel Money Card... I'll tell
her that's the only option and that if she wants I'll take her and the
money to load it up. I can even put it in my name if she wants.

Be prepared for the post office to ask where the money is from. They may not allow her to put it all on the card. Any financial institution handling large amounts of cash will ask the same anti-money laundering questions.

You could always take the cash and not pay it into a bank and just spend it over time. Send money straight to her account from your account as paying a bill or booking a holiday or something similar.

[Jonestown]

If my bank asked me why I was transferring the money I'd say to buy a car.
But that means I can't put the cash into my account the next day.
The Post Office card is even called a Travel Money Card... I'll tell
her that's the only option and that if she wants I'll take her and the
money to load it up. I can even put it in my name if she wants.

Surely by now the alarm bells are ringing

[Massage Bloke]

Further to Scutty's post:

In 2010, HMRC, introduced a new data analytics platform, called "Conect". It links to a huge number of data sets. Nothing much changed for some years. But now they are deploying AI, while at the same time, compelling every firm from eBay to crypto exchanges to send transactional data to HMRC.

Banks are now sending massive amounts of data on customers accounts (including credit card accounts). For the first time HMRC are able to match spending and income on a scale that they couldn't before.

The new "Making Tax Digital" quarterly online returns for firms turning over more than £50k (using HMRC recognised software) is now in force and is feed ing into the analytics platform.

Already, there has been a massive increase in the number of "Nudge" letters HMRC are sending out.

The bottom line, is that OP will be getting involved with Chinese prostitution (beyond being a punter). You can bet if he continues to see her, he will be called upon again. And how long will it be before her friends want to use OP's services.

If it was me, I'd have dropped her like a stone the moment she wanted more than just cash in excange for sex.

[WAY-WARD]

Be prepared for the post office to ask where the money is from. They may not allow her to put it all on the card. Any financial institution handling large amounts of cash will ask the same anti-money laundering questions.

You could always take the cash and not pay it into a bank and just spend it over time. Send money straight to her account from your account as paying a bill or booking a holiday or something similar.

I wouldn't try loading it in one go. Maybe get more than one card.
I thing you can top up in newsagents too.
Myself, I wouldn't want that much cash as cash can slip through
your fingers quiet quickly

[MaxVerstappen]

If my bank asked me why I was transferring the money I'd say to buy a car.
But that means I can't put the cash into my account the next day.
The Post Office card is even called a Travel Money Card... I'll tell
her that's the only option and that if she wants I'll take her and the
money to load it up. I can even put it in my name if she wants.

I wouldn't try loading it in one go. Maybe get more than one card.
I thing you can top up in newsagents too.
Myself, I wouldn't want that much cash as cash can slip through
your fingers quiet quickly

It's pretty obvious to me that you have actually no clue what you are getting yourself into. There are couple of ways to actually do this without any compromise, but I'm not going to discuss this with you on here. You simply don't have the minerals for it. No offence 

There was a reason why this SP specifically asked you to help her, and it's not a good one.

Just walk away.

[daviemac]

I wouldn't try loading it in one go. Maybe get more than one card.
I thing you can top up in newsagents too.
Myself, I wouldn't want that much cash as cash can slip through
your fingers quiet quickly

Police can seize over £1000 cash in they think it's from a nefarious source, then it's up to you to prove it's legit. Then there's the risk of paying cash into your bank and transferring it out again, could raise quite a few questions.

[MaxVerstappen]

Then there's the risk of paying cash into your bank and transferring it out again, could raise quite a few questions.

Not an issue at all. I've done this previously with sums over £1K. The easiest way to do this is to use your banks cash deposit machines, usually located inside your local branch(for context I'm with Lloyds). It's as easy as that. Making a large transfer later on that day also isn't a problem.

[RandomGuy99]

Not an issue at all. I've done this previously with sums over £1K. The easiest way to do this is to use your banks cash deposit machines, usually located inside your local branch(for context I'm with Lloyds). It's as easy as that. Making a large transfer later on that day also isn't a problem.

I've seen Chinese men paying in large amounts of cash and the staff were all over them asking questions. The men tried using the paying in machines and were redirected to the cash desks.

[MaxVerstappen]

I've seen Chinese men paying in large amounts of cash and the staff were all over them asking questions. The men tried using the paying in machines and were redirected to the cash desks.

Could be for various reasons. Depends on the bank as well of course, as these machines do have a deposit limit. His card could have been flagged… for an average Joe this isn’t an issue.

I have also used the teller for large amounts because the self deposit machine was out of order. Once you put your card in the teller sees everything regarding your account, credit score, finances, balance, time spent with the bank etc. anyways, I was not asked a single question about the cash or its whereabouts.

[90125]

I’ve done it a few times with Massage SP’s I’ve known well and have previously paid by bank transfer so identities are already in the open. On 2 occasions I was going on holiday shortly after so exchanged the cash for foreign currency at the Post Office without any questions.

I’ve noticed that when I have asked does an outcall agency massage SP prefer cash or bank payment more and more are asking for bank transfer as a preference.

[WAY-WARD]

I suppose I could get a card, load it using my bank card
and then simply sell it to her. I could then put the cash
back in my account.

Thanks for all the advice by the way

[MaxVerstappen]

I’ve done it a few times with Massage SP’s I’ve known well and have previously paid by bank transfer so identities are already in the open. On 2 occasions I was going on holiday shortly after so exchanged the cash for foreign currency at the Post Office without any questions.

I’ve noticed that when I have asked does an outcall agency massage SP prefer cash or bank payment more and more are asking for bank transfer as a preference.

The typical Post Office method mostly used by Romanian’s to send money back home. It’s that easy.

[Arripotter1971]

I often pay in sums of cash of around £800 - £2000 into a bank account my wife has no knowledge of 
I have never been asked where the cash is from, what it is for etc etc ??

[scutty brown]

The typical Post Office method mostly used by Romanian’s to send money back home. It’s that easy.

Isn't that just the PO acting as an agency for Western Union?
External Link/Members Only

[Jonestown]

I often pay in sums of cash of around £800 - £2000 into a bank account my wife has no knowledge of 
I have never been asked where the cash is from, what it is for etc etc ??

Is the bank account your wife has no knowledge of based overseas?

[puntingking]

Police can seize over £1000 cash in they think it's from a nefarious source, then it's up to you to prove it's legit. Then there's the risk of paying cash into your bank and transferring it out again, could raise quite a few questions.

I thought we have innocent till PROVEN guilty, not guilty till you have proven your innocence. 

[MaxVerstappen]

Isn't that just the PO acting as an agency for Western Union?
External Link/Members Only

Pretty much. Both Western Union and MoneyGram.

I often pay in sums of cash of around £800 - £2000 into a bank account my wife has no knowledge of 
I have never been asked where the cash is from, what it is for etc etc ??

Exactly.

However if you suspect you might have some fake notes, then the best way to ensure things run smoothly for you is to actually declare them where the money has come from before handing it over. Reason being, if you have some fake notes that you are unaware of, declaring it beforehand erases questions afterwards if the counting machine(fitted with scanner to spot fakes) comes back positive for counterfeit notes. The usual declaration is that you sold something on marketplace. Eg, motorbike etc.

So if the OP was to deposit the cash with a teller, it’s best to declare it beforehand.

[shooter]

I suppose I could get a card, load it using my bank card
and then simply sell it to her. I could then put the cash
back in my account.

Thanks for all the advice by the way

She is basically asking you to be a money mule for her. Have a read of this:

External Link/Members Only

External Link/Members Only


Then give your head a wobble.

If you still want to do it after all the advice here, then thats your call 

[MaxVerstappen]

She is basically asking you to be a money mule for her. Have a read of this:

External Link/Members Only

External Link/Members Only


Then give your head a wobble.

If you still want to do it after all the advice here, then thats your call 

He clearly wants to be a hero in all of this but he is way out of his depth with this one.

[puntingking]

There are lots of sps who offer their services with no dramas and no methods like this, I would avoid this sp and see a different sp who just takes the usual method of payment 

I've been asked by a SP to convert cash into an online payment to her bank account.

[shooter]

He clearly wants to be a hero in all of this but he is way out of his depth with this one.

Yep. I watched a crime fly on the wall thing on TV recently when a very nice but naive lad agreed to store some drugs for a few days for his tattoo artist mate for a few grand. Old bill were watching and he got caught and sent down for 5 years and never got his money.

Would be mad to risk it IMO.

[puntingking]

Would be mad to risk it IMO.

I actually agree with you.

There are lots of reasons why the op should not do this and only one reason why he should (to see the sp) which is not a good reason to do it even when you consider that most sps don't ask this request from punters.

[WAY-WARD]

Thanks again for your advice.
I've explained to her it ain't going to happen.

[daviemac]

I thought we have innocent till PROVEN guilty, not guilty till you have proven your innocence. 

Don't shoot the messenger mate, I don't make things up.

External Link/Members Only

Like I said police can seize cash if they suspect it's been obtained illegally. One of the risks of carrying £1000 or over.

External Link/Members Only

[MaxVerstappen]

Thanks again for your advice.
I've explained to her it ain't going to happen.

Good to hear. Finally some common sense. 

[WAY-WARD]

Good to hear. Finally some common sense. 

I guess I knew all along...just needed others to confirm it would
be a bad idea to get involved

[scutty brown]

I'd guess the reason she's asking for help is that she wants to keep the cash from unsanctioned extras away from her sponsor/trafficker/pimp......If they knew she was charging punters extra they'd take the money off her so her bottomless "loan" gets paid more quickly..

Anyway, as I said earlier probably best to point her at one of these, where she can pay in cash for transfer
Moneygram  External Link/Members Only
Western Union  External Link/Members Only

or alternatively this may be worth a look
Ria   External Link/Members Only

Ria seems to work from a network of Asian corner shops / garages / off-licences and similar

[puntingking]

Don't shoot the messenger mate, I don't make things up.

External Link/Members Only

Like I said police can seize cash if they suspect it's been obtained illegally. One of the risks of carrying £1000 or over.

External Link/Members Only

In other words - they need "reasonable grounds to suspect" not just a "hunch" or "gut feeling".
 

[MissWolf]

It is as a few have said money laundering.

If she wants the money into her account so she  an use the card to pay for hotels or shopping etc then she can get a post office travel money card, normally you need to load it with a different currency,  whic you can transfer into sterling on the website i believe.
However you can load it with sterling for a fee, a £700 cash deposit onto the card would  cost about £10,50p I believe,  it can be used to book accommodation and pay for goods, this isn't how the post office intends for it to be used but I know escorts that use it this way.

I don't know if you can do a card to card transfer with it though, so loading the po card then transferring to her online bank may not be possible.

[scutty brown]

In other words - they need "reasonable grounds to suspect" not just a "hunch" or "gut feeling".
 

For example she could be stopped in a car, her place of work raided, stopped while leaving the country. If they find the money and she can't explain the origin it will be confiscated. If she says she earnt it through sex work it will get confiscated because she's probably working illegally. If they suspect trafficking they'll confiscate it.

[stampjones]

It is technically money laundering, though at only £1000 and a one off transaction is unlikely to be flagged.

If you decide to go ahead, I would subsequently transfer the money in two separate payments of uneven amounts eg ie £540 and £460 (or possibly a little more in total than the £1000) to reduce the risk further of it being picked up as matching credits and debits. It is low risk but it also depends on your overall account profile with the bank.

Of course you also do not know the status of her bank account profile and whether her account is being monitored for suspicious activity?

That's pointless. People transfer money abroad all the time and often the amount are round numbers. Unless the connection to cash is known or the destination account is flagged there's zero chance of it being highlighted as ML. Of flagged it will be a check the op is not being scammed.
(It is ML but only if the full cash to transfer is exposed to authorities)

[daviemac]

In other words - they need "reasonable grounds to suspect" not just a "hunch" or "gut feeling".
 

They can tell you they have reasonable grounds whether or not they have but by that time they've got your cash, nothing is proved on the spot and you have to argue the point at a later date to get it back, but that isn't the point I'm making. I'm just pointing out the fact in law the police can seize £1000 cash or over.

Far better the OP is aware of all the possibilities of it going wrong no matter how likely or unlikely.