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AML Intelligence: Banks urge social media platforms to intensify efforts against fraud

UK Finance revealed £571 million was stolen in card payment fraud during the first half of 2024 with 72% of APP scams originating on social media. Despite a slight decrease in fraud from 2023, social media and telecom platforms are still key enablers. UK Finance and the UK Payment Systems Regulator are pressing these sectors to intensify their anti-fraud measures, as existing efforts are insufficient against advanced scams…

Wall Street Journal examines efforts by US regulators to modernise US AML rules

TD Bank’s $3 billion settlement over money-laundering failures has underscored the difficulty banks have in preventing financial crimes. Banking groups say regulators haven’t gone far enough with a proposal to reform the financial system’s safeguards.

Politico: EU’s three biggest countries push for bank deregulation

The letter calls on the EU executive to prepare legislation to change the global bank capital standards, called the Basel rules after their origination at the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, in case the U.S. decides to “diverge significantly” from the internationally agreed rules….

The Guardian: Trump fundraising efforts raise corruption concerns

Trump’s fundraising strategy has increasingly become transactional targeting major donations from influential figures like Elon Musk and wealthy fossil fuel and cryptocurrency donors in exchange for favourable federal policies. Musk’s America Pac had spent nearly US $60 million and fossil fuel contributors had added over $20 million to pro-Trump Super Pacs and his campaign raising concerns about corruption…

Politico: Germany, Italy and France call for watered down banking regulations

In a bid to improve economic competitiveness with the US and China, European leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron, are calling for a more protectionist approach to prevent the EU from lagging. The three major EU nations are pushing for a regulatory pause on financial rules to prioritize banking sector competitiveness and reconsider the implementation of the Basel capital standards…

The Globe and Mail: Canadian banking regulator says AML risks have risen

TD Bank is under intense regulatory scrutiny regarding its AML program with a potential record fine of over US $3 billion from U.S. regulators. The bank’s issues, exacerbated by its failed US $13.4 billion acquisition of First Horizon Corp highlight broader challenges in the banking sector as criminal organizations grow more sophisticated and operate internationally…

Reuters: TD Bank faces US $3bn in penalties as part of US settlement, over charges it failed to properly monitor ML by drug cartels

TD Bank has become the largest US bank to plead guilty to violating federal AML laws and will pay over US $3 billion in penalties. The settlement stems from multiple government investigations into widespread compliance failures. As part of the plea deal, the bank will face an unusual asset cap and other business restrictions…

Intellinews: JPMorgan Chase and HSBC allegedly unknowingly processed payments for Wagner warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin

Leading Western banks JPMorgan Chase and HSBC unknowingly processed payments for companies linked to the Wagner Group leader. These transactions supported Wagner’s operations in Africa, which were profited from regimes by securing mining concessions. While the banks denied knowledge of Wagner’s involvement, the leaked documents highlight how the group blurred the lines between legitimate and illicit activities…

Mynews: China’s money-laundering crackdown needs ‘urgent’ plan to recover illicit digital assets

Growth of virtual currencies such as bitcoin and ether used in crimes has been ‘phenomenal’…

BBC: Singapore’s former minister has been found guilty of accepting gifts during his time in office after pleading guilty in a local court

The first political office-holder in Singapore to be tried in court in the last 50 years known for bringing the Formula 1 Grand Prix to the country which concluded shortly before his court appearance. According to charge sheets he allegedly received gifts worth over US$ 403,000 including flights, hotel stays, musicals, and Grand Prix tickets. After the charges were filed in guilty he was asked to resigned from his government role…

Yahoo Finance: Danske Bank’s settlement in France concludes the final investigation into suspected ML

Danske Bank has settled with French authorities concluding the last investigation related to suspected ML in Estonia with a payment of  US $7 million. This settlement follows multiple investigations prompted by a 2018 internal probe that revealed approximately 200 billion euros in suspicious transactions. Danske’s senior general counsel noted that this marks the final inquiry into the bank concerning its non-resident portfolio from the Estonian branch…

Finance Magnates: Australia’s financial watchdog is seeking a technology partner for a 5-year initiative to combat fraud

Australia’s financial regulator is seeking a tech partner for a five-year contract to tackle fraudulent websites targeting investors with the current deal ending in June 2025. The initiative supports the government’s “Fighting Scams” campaign focusing on fake investment platforms and crypto scams. Since July 2023, ASIC has removed over 7300 scam websites as investment fraud losses in Australia hit US $1.3 billion in 2023…