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The Guardian: Warnings issued as Australian gambling syndicates offer US$400 for personal IDs

Gambling syndicates are offering up to US$400 for personal documents like passports, driver’s licenses, and selfies to create betting accounts under other names raising concerns about identity theft. Experts warn that alias accounts or bowler accounts undermine AML efforts. However, gamblers argue that transferring accounts helps them bypass bookmaker restrictions, allowing continued legitimate betting…

Reuters: Canada’s FINTRAC partners with US agencies through MoU to strengthen AML efforts

FINTRAC announced a partnership with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and Federal Reserve Board to share information and strengthen AML and anti-terrorist financing compliance in cross-border banking. This enhanced collaboration aims to address emerging risks, improve detection, and reduce ML/TF exposure. FINTRAC also imposed a record C$9.2 million penalty on TD Bank for AML regulation violations…

FinCEN joins Federal Financial Regulatory Agencies in issuing a Statement on risk management and other practices to combat elder financial exploitation

A recent study estimates that elder financial exploitation results in annual losses of $28.3 billion in the U.S. The 2024 National Money Laundering Risk Assessment links it to over $3 billion in annual financial losses. FinCEN’s review of BSA data found 155,415 reports of elder exploitation between June 2022 and June 2023, associated with over $27 billion in suspicious activity. Beyond financial losses, elder exploitation also increases reputational, operational, compliance, and other risks for institutions…

Australia introduces new beneficial ownership reporting requirements to strengthen AML oversight in high-risk sectors like real estate, law, and accounting, led by AUSTRAC

Businesses must identify and verify beneficial owners, defined as individuals with at least 25% ownership or control. Public access to the register will be limited to law enforcement agencies, regulators, journalists and academics.

FBI warns that criminals are using generative AI to enhance fraud schemes, making them more believable and harder to detect

Generative AI reduces the time and effort criminals must expend to deceive their targets. Generative AI takes what it has learned from examples input by a user and synthesizes something entirely new based on that information. These tools assist with content creation and can correct for human errors that might otherwise serve as warning signs of fraud…

Nigeria’s EFCC seizes over 750 properties in a massive housing estate in Abuja, marking its largest-ever asset recovery

Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has seized over 750 properties in a massive housing estate in Abuja, marking its largest-ever asset recovery. The luxurious homes and land are alleged to belong to a former senior government official and were purchased with proceeds of corruption. Established in 2003 the EFCC combats corruption, which remains deeply entrenched across Nigeria’s government structures…

NCA disrupts $multi-billion Russian ML networks with links to, drugs, ransomware and espionage, resulting in 84 arrests

Two Russian-speaking networks have been exposed at the centre of a global ML operation enabling UK-based criminals, transnational groups and Russian oligarchs to bypass sanctions. OFAC has sanctioned key figures and four TGR-linked businesses, while NCA led efforts have resulted in 84 arrests and the seizure of over £20m. The networks laundered cryptocurrency, funded Russian espionage…

EU regulators report 771 AML violations at 256 FIs on the EBA’s EuReCA database in 2024, highlighting RegTech failures

The European Banking Authority published its final review on competent authorities’ efforts to combat ML/TF in the banking sector. While significant progress has been made since 2018 weaknesses remain in risk assessment and enforcement processes. The EBA emphasized the importance of cooperation and consistent approaches across jurisdictions. A final review in 2025 will evaluate the effectiveness of actions taken by authorities…

ESA issues Guidelines to standardise Crypto-Asset classification under MiCAR, aiming to enhance consistency, consumer protection, and preventing regulatory arbitrage, effective March 2025

The Guidelines require market participants to submit a legal opinion with the white paper for asset-referenced tokens (ARTs) clarifying that the crypto-asset is not an electronic money token (EMT) or excluded from MiCAR. Similarly, for crypto-assets not classified as ARTs or EMTs, the white paper must include an explanation confirming the asset’s classification under MiCAR.

UK Govt unveils its plan to support Cyprus in establishing a new National Sanctions Implementation Unit to crack down on illicit Russian finance flowing through Europe

The unit will share expertise and intelligence between the OFSI and OTSI and Cypriot Ministry of Finance to disrupt and intercept the flow of illicit finance through Europe to ensure the effectiveness of sanctions on Putin’s war machine. That new unit will include new analytical tools and powers to investigate sanctions evasion and track funds being moved across Europe. The unit comes as the UK also deepens cooperation with Cyprus on serious organised crime. We will work together to combat illicit finance by sharing knowledge on the registration of beneficial owners of assets…

EBA proposes criteria for Crypto-Asset Service Providers to appoint Central Contact Points in each host country to combat ML/TF

The CCP will act as a liaison between crypto businesses and local regulators, ensuring compliance with strict AML and CFT standards. The consultation is open until February 4, 2025, and seeks feedback on ensuring CASPs comply with local AML and CFT obligations. CASPs operating in other Member States, even without branches, must still meet local AML/CFT requirements. The draft RTS outlines the criteria for when CASPs must appoint a CCP and the role of these CCPs in facilitating compliance. The EBA’s proposal draws on existing regulations for Electronic Money Issuers (EMIs) and Payment Service Providers (PSPs), while adding tailored provisions for the unique challenges faced by CASPs..

AUSTRAC issues first consultation on draft AML/CTF rules, requesting feedback by 14 Feb 2025

This exposure draft of the new Rules covers the following areas: AML/CTF programs;  reporting groups (formerly ‘designated business groups’);  customer due diligence; travel rule; compliance reports; keep open notices (formerly ‘Chapter 75 notices’); correspondent banking relationships…

 

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