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Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing

Over 20 years of articles and reference material

A page dedicated to global, regional, UK and US anti-money laundering developments and initiatives.

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MAS proposes bringing stablecoin issuance under Singapore’s Payment Services Act, strengthening oversight of single-currency stablecoins

September 1, 2026

MAS has launched a consultation on proposed amendments to the Payment Services Act to implement Singapore’s regulatory framework for stablecoins. The proposals would establish a dedicated regulated activity for the issuance of qualifying single-currency stablecoins in Singapore, building on the framework previously developed by MAS and bringing issuers within the payments regulatory perimeter. The regime is intended to support the use of…

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…

U.S. DOJ with the FBI, seize over $560K in cryptocurrency and Hamas-linked websites and servers used to solicit terrorist financing, disrupting online fundraising networks

September 1, 2026

The FBI traced crypto donations through rotating wallet addresses promoted on encrypted messaging channels and seized the funds through court-authorised warrants issued in March, June and October 2025. The operation also provided information on thousands of individuals who contacted Hamas online to donate or attempted to donate using crypto and traditional payment methods…

CoLP secures a conviction after seizing the UK’s first SMS blaster, used to send smishing texts, with 7,859 compromised payment card details and counterfeit IDs uncovered in a case linked to ML

September 1, 2026

The device acted as a rogue mobile antenna, allowing scam messages to be sent directly to nearby phones while bypassing normal network security. The messages impersonated trusted organisations, including Royal Mail, to trick victims into providing payment and personal information. A search uncovered thousands of compromised card details and counterfeit driving licences used to support fraudulent bank accounts and launder criminal proceeds…

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…

FCA finds 4 in 5 less-experienced investors use AI for investment decisions, while 44% wrongly believe AI-generated financial information is regulated, raising risks of scams and manipulation

August 27, 2026

FCA research among 18- to 40-year-old current or prospective investors found that 80% of less experienced investors have used AI for investment support, with 56% trusting AI tools and two-thirds expecting to increase their use over the next year. However, 44% incorrectly believe AI-generated financial information is regulated, 38% consider it acceptable to make investment decisions solely on AI outputs and 32% expect access to…

NCA secures forfeiture of more than £3.84M from an agricultural company after tracing funds through Chinese bank accounts to suspected front companies linked to US-sanctioned Iranian oil activity

August 27, 2026

The NCA traced the funds to ENEX bank accounts in China, which had received tens of millions of pounds from suspected front companies; some of these companies were later sanctioned by the US for allegedly facilitating illicit Iranian oil sales and payments to Iran’s Qods Force. The NCA suspects the forfeited funds represent proceeds of money laundering, while the company’s owner denied criminal activity and agreed to the forfeiture…

UK, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand (Five Eyes partners) back UK-led action to disrupt global fraud and online scam networks through faster intelligence-sharing and coordinated enforcement

August 27, 2026

The partners also endorsed stronger support for the INTERPOL Global Fraud Taskforce, which will map organised fraud networks, identify links between criminal groups and support international operations, while the UK has committed £250m through its Fraud Strategy to strengthen enforcement, tackle scams at source and support victims….

INTERPOL’s Operation Jackal IV arrests 58 and identifies 263 suspects across 23 countries, exposing West African crime networks behind a €143M investment fraud scam and $2.67M in seized assets

August 25, 2026

South Africa: 39 arrests, $2.67M seized and 257 bank accounts blocked in a romance and investment scam network targeting retirees. Romania: an investment scam resulted in an estimated €143M stolen and laundered globally, with 11 arrests. Italy: one account moved €845,000 through 560 transactions using 20 financial instruments to disguise the source of funds. Networks were also found using Crime-as-a-Service and dark-web providers…

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…

Companies House publishes new fit-and-proper criteria for ACSPs, strengthening expectations around AML supervision, integrity, corporate verification and compliance

August 24, 2026

The criteria will assess whether providers are suitable to perform company formation, filing and verification services. The assessment covers AML supervision, criminal and regulatory history, financial standing, honesty and integrity, and compliance with Companies House requirements. Companies House will also continue monitoring ACSPs after registration and can suspend…

Europol’s report on ‘Museum Heists’ reveals increasingly violent and organised thefts, with criminals targeting high-value artefacts, precious metals and gemstones for lucrative resale through illicit markets

August 24, 2026

The report also identifies a changing criminal landscape, with ad-hoc groups recruited through social media and offenders from other criminal markets becoming involved because museum heists can offer potentially high profits. These crimes increasingly involve cross-border organised crime networks and illegal trafficking of cultural goods, requiring stronger international cooperation and intelligence sharing…

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