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FATF publishes Status of implementation of Rec. 15 by FATF Members and Jurisdictions with Materially Important VASP Activity

FATF notes that many countries have yet to fully implement the FATF’s requirements on virtual assets and virtual asset service providers to prevent their misuse for illicit finance. The lack of implementation of these requirements (Rec. 15) leaves significant loopholes globally, that criminals and terrorists exploit.

FIAU Malta publishes guidance document in relation to goAML Rejection Rules

The purpose of this guidance document is to provide an overview of the goAML Rejection Rules following the Web Report validation process. These Rejection Rules serve as an additional automated filter prior to the acceptance stage. This is to ensure that submissions made include as much information as possible to assist with the prompt assessment and prioritisation of reports received by the FIAU.

Europol publishes ground-breaking report uncovering the most significant criminal networks threatening the security of the EU

Describes, in detail, how the most threatening criminal networks are organised, which criminal activities they engage in, and how and where they operate.

 

Bank of England, FCA, PRA and PSR conduct 2023 review of Memorandum of Understanding for payment systems in the UK

The Authorities have identified areas for future co-operation and co-ordination, including revisions to the MoU regarding proposed stablecoin regulation, embedding the reforms from the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (FSMA 2023), as well as further enhancing the sharing of information and data. These will be undertaken during 2024 and beyond…

FATF highlights United States’ progress in strengthening measures to tackle ML/TF – R. 24: Transparency and beneficial ownership of legal persons

The FATF published the updated rating in the Seventh Enhanced Follow-Up Report of the US, recognizing Treasury’s historic efforts to increase beneficial ownership transparency and address key vulnerabilities in the U.S. AML/CFT framework…

FinCEN seeks comments on modernising its Customer Identification Program (CIP) requirements for banks

Relates to existing requirements for banks under the Customer Identification Program (CIP) Rule to collect a taxpayer identification number (TIN) from a customer prior to opening an account.

The Wolfsberg Group releases the principles for auditing financial crime risk management (FCRM)

The Group believes that IA can assist their FIs in their fight against financial crime by measuring FCRM outcomes using the Factors and has developed principles and measures for auditing an FCRM programme…

EBA’s Risk Dashboard shows EU banks are robust, but signs of credit quality deterioration are becoming apparent

It discloses aggregated statistical information for the largest EU/EEA institutions. EU/EEA’s banks capitalisation stands at record levels, liquidity has improved, while return on equity (RoE) stood at 10.3%. Yet, early signs of credit quality deterioration have become more apparent. The publication also includes information on minimum requirements for own funds and eligible liabilities (MREL).

HMRC issues list of businesses that failed to comply with the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017

Refers to civil breaches of the regulations and not to criminal offences and covers the period 1 April to 30 September 2023.

NCA publishes UKFIU SARs Annual Statistical report for 2022-23, highlighting a 38.9% increase in the volume of cases and a 46.6% increase in the value of assets denied, between £0 and £500k

*In the last two years the sum total of funds denied from DAML requests is £578.4m, higher than the total denied in the previous six years at £499m. 2021 – 2022 benefitted from seven cases of asset denial between £10m and £50m, contributing to a very high overall asset denied figure…

 

FCA secures £1.6m for investors from alleged unlawful investment fraud schemes

The FCA alleged that AWL unlawfully took approximately £2.8m as deposits under loan agreements and/or as part of an unauthorised collective investment scheme arranged investments in EMB Fund Limited (EMB) totalling about US$9m which breached the restrictions on financial promotion…

Gambling Commission orders Bet365 to pay £582,120 for AML and social responsibility failures at its online business

Recent investigation found that enhanced customer due diligence and know your customer triggers were ineffective at managing money laundering risk and that the company was failing to undertake financial sanctions checks on new customers prior to their first deposits.