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The reality is that such reporting is very plausible. Most western countries have enacted cash transaction legislation that mandates it. In Australia, anything over $10,000 must be reported to regulators, and any amount under that that bank staff deem suspicious. Likewise in the U.S. So, if you’re unusually scruffy-looking and wander into a bank with $4,000 cash to deposit, it’s very possible you will be reported by the teller. (See our article Money Laundering Defined on the web site www.powerprivacy.com for details on U.S. Currency Transfer Reports, or CTRs.)

Here’s a list of most things that can trigger staff’s suspicion and get you reported next time you go to the bank. Banks will not give you a list of or even admit the existence of these criteria, regardless how much you ask:

- A customer refuses to provide identification or explain the purpose of a transaction.

- A customer has a known criminal background and engages in substantial transactions. - A customer is ignorant of basic facts regarding the transaction or is unconcerned about rates, taxes, etc.

- A customer is controlled by another person, particularly where the customer appears unaware, infirm or elderly and is accompanied by a non-relative.

- A customer conducts cash transactions when his/her employment or business does not ordinarily generate or require such amounts of cash. - A customer repeatedly sends or receives wire transfers of any dollar amount when his/her business does not normally require or originate such wires.

• - A customer has no apparent source of income, yet conducts repeated transactions.
• - A customer offers a seller a gift, gratuity or bribe to complete a transaction. - A customer divides transactions into smaller amounts to avoid identification or reporting requirements.
• Suspicious Customer Behavior. - Customer has an unusual or excessively nervous demeanor.

- Customer discusses your record keeping or reporting duties with the apparent intention of avoiding them.

- Customer threatens an employee attempting to deter a record keeping or reporting duty.

• - Customer is reluctant to proceed with a transaction after being told it must be reported.
• - Customer suggests payment of a gratuity to an employee of the financial institution. - Customer appears to have a hidden agenda or behaves abnormally, such as bypassing the chance to obtain a higher interest rate on a large account balance.

- Customer who is a public official opens account in the name of a family member who begins making large deposits not consistent with the known legitimate sources of income of the family.