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AUSTRAC probes Western Union over serious concerns about its management of high-risk payment channels and whether its transaction monitoring can detect ML/TF and child sexual exploitation risks

September 1, 2026

AUSTRAC has launched an enforcement investigation into Western Union Financial Services Australia and its US parent over concerns about the management of high-risk payment channels, customers and affiliates. The investigation will examine the effectiveness of its AML/CTF programme and transaction monitoring, including its ability to identify typologies associated with child sexual exploitation and terrorist financing, as well as governance…

AUSTRAC intelligence uncovers $9.36M in alleged illicit tobacco proceeds, triggering 11 raids and seizures of cash, 5,500+ vapes, 16,500 nicotine products and $73,600 in cash

August 28, 2026

AUSTRAC intelligence has supported an investigation into more than A$9m in alleged criminal proceeds from illicit tobacco and vape sales in the Northern Territory. Operation Teton was triggered after AUSTRAC identified suspicious financial activity reported by a regulated payment platform, including businesses generating revenues inconsistent with their apparent business models. Authorities allege businesses linked to the investigation…

Thailand’s SEC introduces a Travel Rule for digital assets, requiring operators to share transaction data, conduct counterparty checks and verify self-hosted wallets to strengthen AML controls from Feb 2027

August 25, 2026

Thailand’s SEC has issued new Travel Rule requirements designed to improve the traceability of digital asset transfers and prevent their use for laundering, terrorist financing and technology-related crime. Digital asset operators must collect information on customers and counterparties, conduct due diligence on counterparty VASPs and intermediaries, verify ownership or control of self-hosted wallets, and transmit originator and beneficiary information…

Isle of Man FSA releases its AML/CFT/CPF supervisory progress report, noting improved compliance and setting 2026/27 priorities on sanctions, TF/PF, risk assessments, foreign PEPs, VASPs & Travel Rule

August 23, 2026

The report signals a stronger focus on whether firms’ controls work in practice, with governance, risk assessments, CDD, transaction monitoring and control effectiveness remaining key supervisory priorities. The FSA will also assess firms’ treatment of foreign PEPs, while using supervisory findings to strengthen guidance, the AML/CFT Handbook and preparations for the MONEYVAL mutual evaluation…

Mauritius FIU issues supplementary STR Guidance Note 4.1, clarifying expectations around suspicious activity escalation, MLRO responsibilities, internal assessments and timely STR reporting

August 19, 2026

It explains how firms should identify, escalate, assess and report suspicious activity under FIAMLA. The guidance clarifies that suspicion does not require proof or certainty; reasonable grounds are sufficient to trigger reporting. Employees should escalate suspicious matters directly and without delay to the MLRO/DMLRO, without unnecessary management approvals…

AUSTRAC’s Fintel Alliance uncovers coordinated mortgage fraud across 10 major Australian banks, identifying potentially hundreds of millions of dollars in suspected fraudulent loans

August 19, 2026

Operation Claw found inflated incomes, false employment details, fabricated business activity and misleading documents, with mortgage brokers, accountants and law firms repeatedly appearing across applications. The findings highlight systemic vulnerabilities that could be exploited for financial crime and reinforce the need for cross-bank intelligence sharing, stronger controls and early detection…

Ireland publishes its 2026 AML/CFT/CPF Strategy, bringing AML priorities under a single coordinated framework while strengthening measures on crypto, BO, financial intelligence, sanctions & AMLA readiness

August 12, 2026

A major focus is on emerging and increasingly sophisticated financial crime risks. Ireland plans to strengthen AML requirements around crypto-assets and crypto transfers, including enhanced checks involving private wallets and greater due diligence when dealing with overseas crypto firms. The strategy also seeks to strengthen oversight of higher-risk sectors such as gambling…

RUSI’s latest research reveals how North Korea uses crypto-to-fiat off-ramps to convert stolen cryptocurrency into illicit funds supporting its WMD programmes

August 11, 2026

RUSI’s Centre for Finance and Security examines how North Korea moves stolen virtual assets through both crypto and traditional financial infrastructure, including VASPs, intermediaries and off-ramp services, to generate usable funds linked to its weapons programmes. The report recommends clearer guidance for banks dealing with VASPs, more consistent VASP onboarding, stronger information-sharing arrangements and better identification of virtual-asset-related payments…

AUSTRAC suspends Cryptolink’s VASP registration for 3 months, shutting down 96 crypto ATMs over failures to meet AML/CTF reporting and information requirements

August 10, 2026

AUSTRAC suspended Cryptolink’s virtual-asset service-provider registration for three months after concluding that the company remained too high risk to continue operating its crypto-ATM network. The regulator says Cryptolink failed to meet basic threshold-transaction reporting obligations despite an earlier enforceable undertaking addressing alleged late reporting and weaknesses in its AML/CTF risk assessments…

Malta FSA unveils its 2026 Financial Crime Compliance Strategy, shifting towards stronger risk-based supervision, regulatory cooperation and industry engagement, while aligning with EU AML reforms and AMLA

August 6, 2026

The strategy shifts supervision from checklist-based compliance to evidence of effective controls, with continuous oversight, stronger scrutiny of MLRO competence and governance, and greater integration of AML risk with prudential, IT, operational resilience and technology risks, alongside closer alignment with the EU AML framework and digital assets…

GIABA launches Guinea’s second national assessment of money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation-financing risks

August 4, 2026

GIABA and Guinea’s Financial Intelligence Unit, CENTIF, convened government agencies, law enforcement, supervisors, regulators and private-sector representatives to begin updating the country’s understanding of ML/TF/PF threats. The exercise uses the World Bank’s National Risk Assessment methodology and incorporates revisions to FATF Recommendations including those covering risk-based controls, virtual assets and beneficial ownership; it is expected to produce a new national roadmap and work programme.

INTERPOL’s African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026 highlights that AI is fuelling 55% of reported cybercrimes across Africa, enabling faster and more sophisticated fraud and digital threats

August 3, 2026

The report highlights a sharp rise in AI-driven scams, business email compromise, ransomware, synthetic identities and social engineering, with cybercrime losses more than doubling since 2024 to USD 484 million. INTERPOL calls for stronger cross-border cooperation, improved AI capabilities for law enforcement, real-time information sharing between public and private sectors, and enhanced digital resilience to…

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