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US DoJ targets 4 individuals and 13 Mexican companies linked to CJNG, a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, for scamming U.S. seniors through fraudulent timeshares

Through a series of new sanctions, the Treasury has revealed the methods the cartel uses to exploit U.S. victims, including older Americans, by employing call centers, fake brokers, and advance-fee schemes. The action designates four individuals and 13 companies connected to the network, effectively blocking their assets in the United States and prohibiting U.S. persons from engaging in transactions with them…

US DoJ leads international takedown of BlackSuit (Royal) ransomware, seizing $1.09M in cryptocurrency and highlighting coordinated cross-border efforts to dismantle global cybercrime

This coordinated effort involved multiple U.S. agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Secret Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the FBI, alongside law enforcement partners from the U.K., Germany, Ireland, France, Canada, Ukraine, and Lithuania. The operation included the takedown of four servers and nine domains used to deploy ransomware, extort victims, and launder illicit proceeds…

US DoJ extradites 4 Ghanaian nationals linked to a criminal network that defrauded $100M+ from U.S. victims through romance scams and business email fraud

The extraditions, carried out with the cooperation of Ghanaian authorities, highlight the growing sophistication of transnational cyberfraud operations and the complex legal and diplomatic processes required to bring perpetrators to justice. According to prosecutors, the suspects orchestrated scams targeting both vulnerable individuals and businesses, using fake online identities to manipulate victims into transferring funds and laundering…

Trump’s Executive Order prohibits ‘politicised or unlawful de-banking’ ensuring that FIs cannot restrict or deny services on the basis of political beliefs, religion, or lawful business activities

The order requires regulators to review past and current banking practices, remove guidance that could facilitate politically motivated account restrictions, and mandate that financial institutions notify and reinstate affected customers. By establishing clear procedures for identifying and remedying discriminatory debanking, the administration seeks to reinforce the principle that access to banking services should be based on objective…

US DoJ convicts Tornado Cash co-founder for operating an unlicensed crypto mixer that laundered over $1Bn in illicit funds, including transactions linked to North Korea

This high-profile case underscores the growing role that crypto mixers can play in facilitating large-scale money laundering by providing criminals with the ability to obscure the origins of illicit funds. According to prosecutors, Storm knowingly operated Tornado Cash as an unlicensed money transmitting business, profiting from transactions that included proceeds from high-profile cybercrimes such as the Ronin hack attributed to the North Korean…

FinCEN alerts FIs of increasing misuse of convertible virtual currency (CVC) kiosks for scam payments and illicit activity, highlighting red flags and BSA reporting obligations

The notice highlights how these kiosks, while convenient for legitimate users, are increasingly exploited by scammers and other illicit actors, including those involved in cybercrime and drug trafficking. FinCEN emphasizes the importance of identifying red flags, such as unusual transaction patterns or attempts to circumvent reporting requirements, and reminds institutions of their obligations under the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA)…

US SEC launches an AI Task Force to embed responsible AI in its regulatory and enforcement functions – boosting innovation, accuracy, fraud detection, and predictive analytics through unified strategies

This initiative represents a significant shift toward integrating advanced artificial intelligence technologies into regulatory processes, enhancing the SEC’s ability to identify and respond to complex financial crimes more efficiently and accurately. By centralizing AI efforts and fostering collaboration across divisions, the task force will not only streamline internal operations but also set a new standard for responsible and effective AI governance…

US SEC’s Crypto Task Force hosts roundtables nationwide to engage directly with early-stage, smaller crypto firms – bringing fresh voices into the regulatory dialogue

By gathering insights from startups with limited resources and experience, the SEC aims to develop more effective, tailored regulations that address AML and compliance challenges specific to the evolving crypto landscape. This initiative reflects a broader effort to enhance transparency, foster constructive dialogue, and strengthen oversight at the grassroots level, ultimately helping to prevent fraud, ML…

US President’s WG on Digital Asset Markets unveils bold plans to make US the crypto capital – backing CFTC oversight, stablecoin rules, a CBDC ban, sharper AML rules and tax reforms to drive innovation

The mission of the President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets is to develop a cohesive and forward-looking regulatory framework that promotes responsible innovation in digital financial technologies. It is also tasked with enhancing the United States’ strategic position in global digital finance through coordinated oversight, risk management, and the establishment of national digital asset reserves…

US Senators introduce the Art Market Integrity Act to close major AML/CFT gaps in the $25B art market, requiring dealers handling sales over $10K- $50K yearly to vet clients and report suspicious activity

The Art Market Integrity Act, introduced by Senator Fetterman and colleagues, seeks to extend Bank Secrecy Act requirements to high-value art transactions, including customer due diligence, recordkeeping, and suspicious activity reporting. By closing existing regulatory gaps, the bill aims to reduce vulnerabilities in the U.S. art market exploited by sanctioned individuals, kleptocrats, and terrorist financiers, aligning U.S. standards with international best practices…

FinCEN delays its Investment Adviser AML Rule’s effective date from 2026 to 2028, aiming to refine anti-illicit finance measures while easing compliance for firms with diverse risk profiles

On July 21, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s FinCEN announced a delay in the effective date of the Investment Adviser AML Rule—from January 1, 2026 to January 1, 2028—while committing to review the rule’s scope to ensure it accounts for the varied business models and risk profiles in the IA sector. During the postponement, FinCEN, together with the SEC, plans to issue exemptive relief and revisit related proposed customer identification requirements, aiming to provide clarity and reduce regulatory uncertainty…

President Trump signs the GENIUS Act marking a milestone in digital asset regulation, establishing a robust stablecoin framework that boosts U.S. crypto innovation and strengthens FC safeguards

Key provisions include mandatory 100% reserve backing with liquid assets such as U.S. dollars or short-term Treasuries, monthly public disclosures of reserve compositions, and strict marketing rules to prevent misleading claims about government backing. The Act also subjects stablecoin issuers to the Bank Secrecy Act, requiring effective anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance programs…

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