We are looking at making a substantial investment in starting a company in Buenos Aires. We would outsource computer and internet related services to the US and Europe. It seemed like a great idea based on the relatively low cost of talent and the apparently high quality of life.We have hit a snag, however, and I wanted to ping the forum to see if it is inevitable. We found an apartment we liked and wanted to buy, offered by a well known development firm, and shown to us by a well known real estate firm that markets heavily to expats interested in Argentina through sites directed at those interested in living internationally.The problem is, both the real estate agency and the developer are requiring us to commit perjury by signing written documents (I think they are sworn, but the real estate agent has not responded to our request to see copies) as to the price to be paid that materially misstate the price. If we don't agree to misstate the price in the official documents (by six figures American), the deal is off. The real estate agent emailed us that we have until tomorrow to agree to sign the false documents or we lose the deal (and perhaps, I suppose, the deposit we put down.)
We are long term expats, and understand that fraud is an option in business transactions in many countries. What has surprised us, and, quite frankly, put us off the whole idea of investing in Argentina, is fraud on our part being required by leading local companies as a basic cost of doing business in Argentina.Are we missing something? We are not going to file false documents, even if means putting our investment into another country, because aside from any moral qualms it could have material legal consequences for us under the law of our home country. Is committing fraud the standard, the more or less mandatory, way of buying property in Argentina? Is there a way around it?
We are long term expats, and understand that fraud is an option in business transactions in many countries. What has surprised us, and, quite frankly, put us off the whole idea of investing in Argentina, is fraud on our part being required by leading local companies as a basic cost of doing business in Argentina.Are we missing something? We are not going to file false documents, even if means putting our investment into another country, because aside from any moral qualms it could have material legal consequences for us under the law of our home country. Is committing fraud the standard, the more or less mandatory, way of buying property in Argentina? Is there a way around it?