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The 7th Annual OffshoreAlert Conference attracted world-wide media coverage, including articles written by the Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, Reuters, Bloomberg, the New York Times, the Guardian and many more.

Economic Crisis, OECD Initiative Spell Trouble for Caribbean Financial Centers, Panelist Says

Worldwide Tax Daily, May 4

Caribbean fears witchhunt in tax haven crackdown

The Guardian, May 3

Ponzi schemes wed psychology, finance: Human weaknesses are exploited
Calgary Herald, May 2

U.S., Cayman Islands Debate Tax Haven Status Amid Calls for Cooperation
Worldwide Tax Daily, May 1

Under Florida Sun, Tax Avoiders, Enforcers Trade Notes, Schmooze
The Wall Street Journal, May 1

Swiss bank UBS fights IRS in Miami
The Miami Herald, May 1

Barbados May Reap Rewards of Treaty Network
Worldwide Tax Daily, April 30

IRS on the Track of Tax-Cheating "John Doe's"
Inter Press Service, April 30

"Doomsday scenario" looms for offshore financial centres - warns top UK Govt. advisor
The Royal Gazette, April 30

Fraudsters go offshore for business, warns asset recovery specialist
The Royal Gazette, April 30

US and UK are biggest tax havens of the lot, claims Cayman business leader
The Royal Gazette, April 30

TIEAs must be put into practice to succeed, warns US tax investigator
The Royal Gazette, April 29

Report from the OffshoreAlert Conference
Tax Justice Network, April 29

Psychology weds finance in Ponzi scheme frauds
Reuters, April 28

U.S. Has 'More Than 250' Tax Evader Names, Seeks More John Doe Summonses
Worldwide Tax Daily, April 28

IRS agents hunting offshore tax cheats: Broadening its hunt for tax cheats beyond Swiss banking giant UBS, the IRS aims to force other offshore banks to disclose clients with secret accounts
BusinessWeek, April 28

OECD: Bermuda didn't do enough
The Royal Gazette, April 28

US tax authorities target offshore banking industry
Wealth Bulletin, April 28

IRS seeks court summonses for offshore bank probe
WA Today BusinessDay, April 28

IRS ready to tackle other Swiss banks
Financial Post, April 28

IRS expands offshore banking probe
The Boston Globe, April 28

IRS casts wide net for banks
Toronto Star, April 28

IRS to Expand Use of 'John Doe' Tactic
The Wall Street Journal, April 27

IRS going after offshore banks' client lists
The Miami Herald, April 2

U.S. to pursue other banks in tax cases—IRS
The Guardian, April 2

IRS Expanding Offshore Bank Probe Beyond UBS
Bloomberg, April 27

I.R.S. to Pursue Foreign Banks Assisting Tax Evasion

The New York Times, April 27

U.S. to pursue other banks in tax cases—IRS
Reuters, April 27

As offshore financial centers capitulate to US pressure, first steps are "crucial" to a successful tax evasion defense, says top attorney

Article, March 31, 2009 -- The days when U. S. taxpayers could rely on offshore jurisdictions to stymie tax investigations by the IRS are long gone, says a criminal tax defense attorney.

Global interest in OFCs “off the charts”

Press Release , March 26, 2009 -- OffshoreAlert Conference set for record numbers - Attendees from 25 countries, major newspapers flock to event.

'Hit the crooks who defrauded you hard and fast', asset recovery attorney advises victims

Article, March 24, 2009 -- The key components of a successful asset recovery attempt speed, aggressiveness, and experience. Every moment lost locating, freezing and repatriating assets back to the estate is money lost forever to the victims.

OFCs are "scapegoats" for the economic crisis, says pro-offshore ex-diplomat

Article, March 16, 2009 -- Major countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom are simply "passing the buck" by blaming Offshore Financial Centers for the global economic crisis and taking steps to close them down.

That is the view of Sir Ronald Sanders, a former High Commissioner to the UK for Antigua and Barbuda and currently a business consultant, specializing in the Caribbean.

The 'New Reality': Swiss banks must stop assisting criminals, says attorney

Article, March 10, 2009 -- Switzerland should rely on the quality of its banking system to compete for business globally, not simply a willingness to turn a blind eye to illegal conduct.

That is the view of Andrew Weinstein, a partner with Holland + Knight law firm in Miami who has more than 30 years' combined government and private sector experience handling complex tax planning and compliance matters for ultra high net worth individuals, including representing them in civil and criminal tax matters before the IRS and U. S. Department of Justice.

"I detected Madoff scam in five minutes", Harry Markopolos tells '60 Minutes'

Article, March 2, 2009 -- Bernard Madoff whistle-blower Harry Markopolos said it took him "five minutes" of looking at records to suspect that former NASDAQ chairman was perpetrating a fraud and another four hours to mathematically prove it.

Apart from himself, many of Wall Street's biggest financial institutions also knew that Madoff was a phony long before his group collapsed under the weight of its illegal activities, rather than due to any regulatory action, Markopolos told US television show '60 Minutes' in an interview that was broadcast on Sunday.

'Honesty' is the key to a successful tax defense, says tax attorney who represented UBS client

Article, February 17, 2009 -- With the US Government stepping up its fight against offshore tax evasion, one of the country's leading tax defense attorneys says the keys to a successful defense against a tax investigation are something that is anathema to many defendants – honesty and openness.

US taxpayers being investigated by the IRS would be well-advised to heed the advice of Edward M. Robbins, Jr., of Hochman, Salkin, Rettig, Toscher & Perez, in Beverly Hills, California. Last year, Robbins successfully negotiated what is considered to be one of the sweetest tax-deals ever.

IRS to discuss offshore initiative at OffshoreAlert Conference

Press Release, January 12, 2009 -- Three senior representatives of the United States Internal Revenue Service will present a session on the tax agency's various offshore initiatives at the 7th Annual OffshoreAlert Financial Due Diligence Conference, which will be held at the Eden Roc Resort & Spa, in Miami Beach, Florida, on April 26-28, 2009.

They are Daniel Reeves who, for the past seven years, has been the lead investigator of the IRS' Offshore Credit Card Project and other offshore compliance initiatives; John C. McDougal, a Special Trial Attorney for the IRS who, for the last nine years, has served as counsel to the agency's offshore initiatives; and Thomas J. Kelly, Director, Financial Crimes for the IRS, based at its headquarters in Washington, DC.

2008 proves the value of financial due diligence

Article, January 5, 2009 -- If ever a year emphasized the importance of financial due diligence and exposed the fact that some of the world's biggest financial institutions, fund managers, and highest net worth individuals need help with it, it was 2008.

They bought investment products whose risks they didn't understand (mortgage-backed securities) and invested in schemes that had red flags plastered all over them (Bernard Madoff), the consequences of which are global losses on a scale that is scarcely believable.

Press coverage

TV spot for former BDA Sun reporter and crime-buster: Marchant details how he brought down fraudster

(Bermuda Sun) A former Bermuda Sun reporter's pivotal role in the downfall of an American fraudster has been shared with tens of thousands of TV viewers. David Marchant, now based in Miami, helped expose Marc Harris as a crook who stole millions from investors.

The story was featured on MSNBC's 'American Greed', which aired on Wednesday night and will be repeated on Sunday, February 8 at midnight Bermuda time.

Offshore Alert to feature US tax investigators

(CaymanNewsService): Three senior representatives of the United States Internal Revenue Service will present a session on the tax agency's various offshore initiatives at the forthcoming Offshore Alert conference. Daniel Reeves, John C. McDougal and Thomas J. Kelly will reveal some of the IRS’ civil and criminal enforcement activities designed to identify US taxpayers who illegally avoid taxes through offshore financial

OECD Tax expert starring in offshore conference

(CNS): Next year’s Offshore Alert conference is likely to draw a considerable amount of attention this year from Cayman delegates as Jeffrey Owens (left), Director of the Center for Tax Policy & Administration at the OECD, has agreed to give the Keynote address. According to David Marchant the organizer and publisher of the Offshore Alert newsletter, these are tough times for Offshore Financial Centres with even the Vatican coming out against them.

Marchant said he expects the 7th Annual OffshoreAlert Financial Due Diligence Conference to be particularly busy one as more than ever as people need to know what's acceptable internationally to prosper in the economic downturn.