Two charged with bribery and laundering over plan that ‘generated $65m in profit’ through Ecuador pension scheme
Two men have been charged in the United States for their role in a bribery and laundering scheme to make illegal profits from a public police pension scheme (ISSPOL) in Ecuador
UAE’s AML journey: radical change or more of the same?
The United Arab Emirates has long been a magnet for illicit funds, for a whole host of often deep-rooted economic, historical, geographical and cultural reasons. But with the Financial Action Task Force calling for urgent action, the Gulf state has recently shown signs of flexing its regulatory muscles, but can it really adequately tackle financial crime?
Authorities shut down trafficking and laundering network that made profit of €14 million
Law enforcement agencies have dismantled a cross-border human trafficking and laundering ring, raiding properties and arresting 38 suspects in France, Romania and Moldova.
Blaming company formation agents misses the bigger picture about AML in the UK
The National Crime Agency is planning a crack down on company formation agents as part of an AML drive. However, John Binns argues the problems are due to more significant holes in the UK’s financial crime safety net
Former Europol director to kick off two days of debate at FinCrime World Forum
Sir Rob Wainwright will kick off two days of debate, insight and virtual networking at the FinCrime World Forum next month.
How your bank can protect a herd of elephants in Botswana’s Okavango Delta
Erik Stretz outlines what Europe’s banks must do to help fight the illicit trade of wildlife
Cash payments to UK universities raise money laundering concerns
Financial crime experts have raised concern about the number of universities in the UK which accept cash payments from students from countries with high money-laundering risks.
DeFi brings risks and opportunities for AML
Cyber fraud and money laundering involving Decentralised Finance (DeFi) is on the rise. Here Marcus Rickard looks at the risks DeFi creates for AML compliance, the consequences of those risks for AML compliance officers, how the risks can be mitigated and the potential benefits DeFi brings
270 service deposit addresses ‘account for 55% of all cryptocurrency money laundering globally’
Law enforcement could signficantly hamper cybercriminals’ ability to convert cryptocurrency into cash by identifying and prosecuting the owners of the “surprisingly small” number of deposit address service providers responsible, according to a report.
“Fishrot Files” corruption and laundering probe into Norway’s largest bank DNB dropped
Norway’s largest bank DNB has announced it is no longer being investigated by the country’s financial crime watchdog over alleged links to bribery and money laundering
Bank of Russia reports ‘surge’ in illegal financial services offered online
The central bank of the Russian Federation has identified more than 1,500 organisations suspected of engaging in illegal financial service activity in 2020, as online fraud “surged” during the Covid-19 pandemic.
£4.5bn of unreported cash identified in UK as criminals exploit ‘cottage industry’ of shadowy company formation
A ‘cottage industry’ of company formation agencies is helping criminals launder billions of pounds in the UK, with £4.5billion of unreported income identified between 2012 and 2017, a report has revealed.
Cum-Ex tax fraud: the difficulties and dilemmas in pinning blame
The Cum-Ex trading scandal led to governments in several western European countries losing billions of Euros in tax revenue. As fresh prosecutions get underway, Tom McNeill explains the difficulties in proving collusion between different parties.
Crown Resorts deemed unsuitable to run $2.2bn Sydney casino due to money laundering concerns
Crown Resorts deemed unsuitable to run $2.2bn Sydney casino due to money laundering concerns
UK authorities eye crackdown on company formation agents’ laundering
The United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) is planning a crackdown on company formation agents in a bid to tackle money laundering.
US real estate companies hand over £50m to resolve ‘Black Market Peso Exchange’ laundering charges
Three US real estate companies have agreed to forfeit $50m to settle claims they accepted proceeds from drug trafficking laundered through a notorious underground currency exchange.
AUSTRAC has warned of high risks of money laundering through junket tour operations and has urged casinos to act.
The Australian watchdog has published a risk assessment of the junket tour operations (JTO) sector. Junket tour operators bring wealthy gamblers to casinos by offering promotions and other services, with these ‘high-rollers’ paying the JTO.
Understanding the components of illegal wildlife trafficking
High profits and the perceived low risk of being caught makes the illegal wildlife trade attractive to criminals. Paula Krulicki of ManchesterCF explains how anti-money laundering teams should investigate the problem.
FinCEN publishes new typologies to help firms detect money laundering linked to human trafficking
The US Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has published new information on typologies and indicators to help compliance teams combat the “horrific toll” of human trafficking.
The money laundering and fraud threats on the rise due to Covid-19
Remote working, the lockdown, government relief packages, restrictions of travel and greater digital use of financial services…The COVID-19 pandemic has led to drastic changes in the way we all live and work in a short space of time.
