Shell corporations are common in any overseas dealings. They are especially common when you don’t know the people that you are getting into business with, or where your investment may be at risk. The shell corporation isolates the investment from other assets. If the money is lost, it doesn’t affect other investments or assets.
They can also be used as part of a retirement savings plan, and any income shielded from taxes.
One large developer client, incorporated a new shell corporation for every offer to purchase that they made to buy property. If the offer was refused, or the parent company didn’t proceed with the purchase, the shell corporation was never used again.
If the deal proceeded, the corporation held the property until development was completed, built and sold, and then dissolved.