Why are transactions in IVTS hard to track?

Transactions in Informal Value Transfer Systems (IVTS) are particularly challenging to track primarily because they often involve cash payments. Cash transactions are inherently difficult for authorities to monitor since they do not leave an electronic trail. This lack of digital records means that there is no straightforward way to trace the source or destination of funds, making it easier for money laundering activities to occur without detection.

In contrast to electronic or formal banking transactions, which usually provide detailed records and can be analyzed through structured databases, cash-based transactions bypass these systems entirely. As a result, the anonymity and immediacy of cash make IVTS appealing for those seeking to transfer values outside the purview of regulatory bodies.

High-tech encryption methods, while potentially relevant to secure communications in other contexts, do not play a significant role in the core mechanics of cash transactions in IVTS. Similarly, electronic funds transfers, although they can be tracked, are not a primary characteristic of IVTS, which relies more on cash and personal networks. Thus, the nature of cash payments is what truly complicates tracking efforts in IVTS.