They change the name on the deed and use fronts I guess. They arrange a bogus deal to use a front. Italy is the only place I've heard of that happening. The Kashmir case is a perfect example - they were Canadian, British Norwegian, Japanese and American. What you have to remember is that Americans have the image of wealth.
Criminals can probably spot westerners pretty easily.
The State Department told them to stay away. I focused on incidents in the 1990's. I tried to attend one and was told the clients don't want people to know who they are, especially journalists. Can't answer that. These are nameless faces.