Q: I'm receiving 100 euro weekly through WU in my name to give to someone without a passport. Can I get in trouble?
The person I help came from Serbia to Berlin a while back. I don't know why the person does not have a passport. I know the money comes from his mum to support him here.
A:
This situation raises several potential legal and ethical concerns:
1. Money laundering: Regularly receiving money on behalf of someone else and transferring it to them could be viewed as a money laundering scheme, even if the intent is not malicious. Money laundering is a serious crime in most countries, including Germany.
2. Immigration issues: If the person you are helping is in Berlin without proper documentation or a valid reason for not having a passport, they may be violating immigration laws. Assisting someone who is in a country illegally can lead to legal consequences.
3. Taxation: If the money is not declared as income or properly taxed, it could be considered tax evasion, which is also a crime.
4. Lack of transparency: Not knowing the full reason behind the person's lack of a passport and the source of the funds raises questions about the legitimacy of the arrangement.
While it's commendable to want to help someone in need, it's crucial to ensure that your actions are legal and above board. To protect yourself from potential legal trouble, it's advisable to:
1. Encourage the individual to seek proper documentation and legal status in Germany.
2. If possible, have the mother send the money directly to her son through legal channels.
3. If you choose to continue helping, maintain clear records of the transactions and report them to the relevant authorities if necessary.
4. Consult with a legal professional to fully understand the potential risks and to ensure you're acting within the law.
Remember, even if your intentions are good, engaging in activities that might be illegal can lead to serious consequences. It's important to prioritize your own legal safety while finding appropriate ways to assist others.
Justia Ask A Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask A Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between Justia and you, or between any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions and you, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask A Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.