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Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing

United Kingdom

This section covers AML/CTF initiatives by FCA, HMT, HMRC, JMLSG and other related UK organisations.

FCA Financial Crime: Guide for firms
HM Treasury Money Laundering Prevention
HMRC Money Laundering Regulations
JMLSG industry Guidance
FATCA UK Regulations 2013
FATCA UK Regulations Guidance 2013
Gambling Commission Money Laundering
National Crime Agency updates

And many more…

 

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NCA issues an Invoice Fraud Leaflet warning that criminals are targeting the construction industry through fake invoices, supplier impersonation, and email interception to divert payments

March 25, 2026

One-page advisory identifies common red flags such as urgent payment requests, unexpected changes to bank details, and discrepancies in invoice information, often enabled by intercepted or spoofed communications. It also sets out practical mitigation measures, including independent verification of payment details, dual authorisation for high-value transactions, and improved cybersecurity and staff awareness to reduce vulnerability…

NCA investigates after UK Border Force seized £80M of cocaine from a Panama shipment at London Gateway port, uncovering a major trafficking route hidden among legitimate goods bound for Norway

March 24, 2026

The drugs were discovered inside a shipping container arriving from Panama, concealed among legitimate goods including ceramics and kitchenware and destined for onward shipment to Norway. The seizure forms part of ongoing international efforts to disrupt large-scale drug trafficking networks, with the NCA now working with global partners to trace the criminal supply chain behind the shipment…

NCA launches the National Strategic Assessment of SOC 2026, warning that tech-driven, interconnected crime is rising rapidly and calling for a National Police Service to tackle it with intelligence and coordinated action

March 21, 2026

The assessment provides an authoritative intelligence picture of threats including fraud, money laundering, cybercrime, drug trafficking and organised immigration crime, highlighting how criminals increasingly exploit digital technologies, financial systems and international supply chains to operate at scale. It also emphasises that these threats are interconnected and increasingly enabled by professional facilitators and online platforms, requiring coordinated action across law enforcement, government and the private sector to disrupt criminal networks and protect the UK public…

FCA highlights rising risks from unregulated lenders and ‘Annex 1’ firms, warning that limited oversight, weak transparency, and gaps in consumer protection demand far stronger DD from regulated firms

March 20, 2026

The FCA highlights that some regulated firms are increasingly interacting with or referring customers to these entities, often without fully assessing the risks, which can expose consumers to complex, opaque, and potentially harmful lending arrangements. It also notes weaknesses in AML controls, limited transparency, and the regulator’s restricted powers over such firms, making oversight more challenging. As a result, the FCA is urging regulated firms to strengthen their due diligence processes—verifying FCA registration, independently validating information, understanding the nature of the business…

UK moves to dissolve Zedxion Exchange Ltd, a crypto platform accused of funneling funds to Iran’s IRGC, after investigations revealed fake registrations and transactions enabling sanctions evasion 

March 18, 2026

An OCCRP investigation revealed that the exchange used false registration details and a fictitious director to obscure its connections to sanctioned individuals, enabling it to operate under the radar of UK authorities. This move follows U.S. sanctions targeting Zedxion and its affiliated firm for allegedly handling wallets tied to the IRGC. Blockchain analysis indicates that the platform processed substantial funds for networks linked to Iran, highlighting how crypto exchanges can be exploited to evade sanctions and finance illicit activity…

UK Govt and INTERPOL launch Operation Shadow Storm at the Global Fraud Summit, a first-of-its-kind global taskforce uniting 190+ countries, banks, and tech firms to disrupt overseas scam and fraud networks

March 17, 2026

Announced at the Global Fraud Summit in Vienna in March 2026, the taskforce will coordinate international law-enforcement action, intelligence-sharing and operational efforts to identify and dismantle scam operations based overseas, which account for a large proportion of fraud affecting the UK. The initiative reflects the government’s wider strategy to tackle fraud as a predominantly international, online and organised crime threat, strengthening collaboration with partners such as INTERPOL and foreign governments to pursue offenders beyond UK jurisdiction and protect victims…

Home Office Minister Lord Hanson warns at the Global Fraud Summit that fraud accounts for 44% of UK crime, urging bold global action and Interpol-backed partnerships to dismantle criminal networks

March 16, 2026

In the speech, Minister Lord Hanson highlights that fraud is increasingly transnational and technology-enabled, with criminals exploiting digital platforms, communications networks and open financial systems, and stresses that governments must match this innovation by using tools such as artificial intelligence and enhanced data-sharing. He calls for deeper collaboration between governments, law enforcement, industry and international partners, noting that a significant proportion of fraud originates overseas and that effective disruption will depend on coordinated global action, intelligence…

Nasdaq Verafin’s 2026 Global Financial Crime Report reveals a sharp surge in illicit activity, with $4.4 trillion lost in 2025 up $1.3 trillion since 2023, driven by fraud, drug and trafficking, and AI‑enabled criminal schemes

March 11, 2026

The report highlights that 90% of financial crime professionals have observed more AI-driven attacks, while 75% of institutions plan to deploy AI for detection, underscoring both the growing threat and the role of technology in fighting it. It calls for enhanced collaboration, intelligence sharing, and next-generation tools to disrupt sophisticated criminal networks and safeguard individuals and communities worldwide…

NCA’s UKFIU SARs in Action (Mar 26) warns UK victims are losing millions to scams, with 143 payment diversion fraud cases averaging £82,000 per victim and crypto fraud reaching 12.6M online impressions

March 11, 2026

The issue also features the Crypto Dream Scam Nightmare campaign warning of crypto investment fraud, reaching millions through social media and advising victims to verify platforms via the FCA Firm Checker and report to Report Fraud. Money laundering in social housing is addressed, emphasizing the need for robust AML compliance and vigilance by housing associations and professional enablers. Updates on international cooperation through CARIN showcase asset recovery collaboration across 60+ jurisdictions. Practical guidance is provided on updating SAR Portal contacts…

Home Office launches a refreshed Fraud Strategy for 2026–2029 aimed at disrupting fraud networks, strengthening law-enforcement capabilities and improving protection for victims

March 10, 2026

In a launch speech, Home Office minister Lord Hanson highlights the need for stronger collaboration between government, law enforcement, financial institutions and technology companies to tackle fraud, which represents a major share of crime affecting individuals and businesses in the UK. The strategy focuses on disrupting fraud before it reaches victims, including new capabilities such as an Online Crime Centre to coordinate intelligence and operational action against organised fraud networks.

UK Govt launches its new and expanded Fraud Strategy 2026–29, backed by £250M, with a new Online Crime Centre deploying AI detection and real-time intelligence sharing to crack down on organised fraud

March 9, 2026

The initiative will identify and shut down the infrastructure used by criminals such as fraudulent bank accounts, websites, phone numbers and social media channels, allowing authorities to block scam messages, freeze accounts and disrupt organised crime groups, particularly those operating internationally. The strategy reflects a shift toward technology-driven, cross-sector collaboration to proactively disrupt fraud and better protect victims, as fraud currently affects 1 in 14 adults and 1 in 4 businesses in the UK and costs…

UK DBT issues updated statutory guidance on People with Significant Control to help companies identify and report individuals or entities with significant influence, ensure BO transparency, and comply with the Companies Act 2006

March 4, 2026

It defines the criteria for determining significant control, including the right to exercise, or actually exercising, power over key company decisions, such as appointing directors, influencing financial policies, or controlling voting rights. The guidance offers practical examples to help companies accurately decide who must be recorded on the PSC register and reported to Companies House, ensuring consistency and compliance across firms. It also clarifies situations where certain roles or relationships…

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