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Financial Times: U.S. federal law enforcement officials stated that suspects chose Citigroup ATMs for ML due to operational advantages

US prosecutors revealed that drug traffickers chose Citigroup for ML due to its perceived weaker fraud controls. In January 2021, two California residents deposited nearly $36,000 in illicit cash at Citi ATMs by splitting the amount into smaller transactions to avoid detection. The Drug Enforcement Administration reported that the duo, allegedly part of a network laundered at least $50m, chose Citi after evaluating several banks…

FinCEN finalises financial measure against Iraq-based Al-Huda Bank to combat terrorist financing

A final rule issued under section 311 of the USA PATRIOT Act (section 311) that severs Al-Huda Bank from the United States financial system by prohibiting domestic financial institutions and agencies from opening or maintaining a correspondent account for or on behalf of Al-Huda Bank, an Iraqi bank that serves as a conduit for terrorist financing.

FinCEN clarifies beneficial ownership reporting requirements releasing updated FAQs

The FAQs provide essential clarifications on reporting obligations, required information and compliance procedures which are crucial for businesses to understand and adhere to under the new regulations…

FinCEN reminds financial institutions to remain vigilant to elder financial exploitation

FinCEN reminds financial institutions to remain vigilant in identifying and reporting suspicious activity related to elder financial exploitation (EFE). EFE-related losses affect personal savings, checking accounts, retirement savings, and investments, and can severely impact victims’ well-being and financial security as they age. FinCEN has previously published resources to help stakeholders combat EFE…

FinCEN issues supplemental advisory on the illicit procurement of fentanyl precursor chemicals and manufacturing equipment

The supplemental advisory builds off FinCEN’s 2019 advisory with new typologies and red flags to identify and report suspicious transactions, and fulfills the requirement in Section 3202 of the recently enacted FEND Off Fentanyl Act.

FBI warns of scammers defrauding individuals via work-from-home scams

The scammers pose as a legitimate business, such as a staffing or recruiting agency, and may contact victims via an unsolicited call or message. Scammers design the fake job to have a confusing compensation structure that requires victims to make cryptocurrency payments in order to earn more money or “unlock” work, and the payments go directly to the scammer. Scammers direct victims to a fake interface, which shows victims are earning money, though none of it is available to them to cash out…

SEC charged JAG Capital Advisors for defrauding investors of at least $3m over three years

JAG Advisors, deceived approximately nine investors by misrepresenting nearly every aspect of the fund, including its performance and risks. The principal of JAG Advisors, allegedly diverted $1.1 million for personal expenses such as travel and jewellery, and lost over $1.7 million through high-risk trading and speculative investments, while falsifying documents to conceal losses from investors…

US DoJ announces three UK nationals have been charged with involvement in the evolved apes NFT scam

Three defendants are charged with inflating non-fungible token prices using false claims about a video game and funneling profits to personal accounts, a violation the FBI is committed to pursuing perpetrators…

US DoJ accuses The Epoch Times media company for a massive ML and cryptocurrency scam

The attorney’s office denied charges against the Epoch Times, a conservative right-wing media company known for its conspiratorial coverage of global politics and criticism of the chinese communist party…

US DoJ announces the extradition of Estonian nationals from Estonia to the US for $575m cryptocurrency fraud and ML scheme

Potapenko and Turogin manipulated victims into purchasing contracts for virtual currency shares, with US Customs and Border Protection aiding in their arrest and facilitating their entry into the US. The US thanks the Cybercrime Bureau of the National Criminal Police of the Estonian Police and border gaurd for its support with the investigation…

FinCEN issues a statement to provide “clarity” to banks on how to apply a risk-based approach to conducting CDD on independent ATM owners or operators in line with the requirements set out in FinCEN’s 2016 CDD Rule

Financial crime risk for independent ATM owners or operators varies based on transaction volume, ATM locations, and fund source. Bank-funded ATMs may pose a low risk due to bank knowledge and ability to identify suspicious activity…

 

 

FinCEN issues Year in Review for Fiscal Year 2023

The Year in Review is intended to help stakeholders gain insight into the collection and use of Bank Secrecy Act data, including FinCEN’s efforts to support law enforcement and national security agencies.