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How can we improve the cyberworld? One author tells us. We sat down with banking expert Tom Vartanian to discuss his recent book: “The Unhackable Internet: How Rebuilding Cyberspace Can Create Real Security and Prevent Financial Collapse.” Vartanian charges that our current cyber systems are unsustainable and offers several recommendations for the private and public sectors.

It has been a year since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. One of the immediate responses to Russia’s action was an ongoing coordinated effort by the US, G7 and European Union to limit Russia’s war-making ability through sanctions and export controls. John and Elliot discuss some key elements of the sanction programs and how they have performed since being imposed.

John and Elliot discuss several items this week, including a posting by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), a comment letter by a group of bank trade associations on the FinCEN Beneficial Ownership Registry proposal, and the announcement that the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Career agency official back over the progression of financial fraud from the Savings & Loan crisis to today. Jim Vivenzio, now with Perkins Coie LLP, provides insight on the state of the financial industry responding to the myriad of challenges they face.

The Wolfsberg Group and the Institute of International Finance have issued a joint comment letter to the European Banking Authority on de-risking. John and Elliot discuss the details of the comment letter, including its recommendation that the EBA adopt definitions and other approaches on de-risking taken by FATF, as the EBA works toward updating its AML/CFT regime for the European Union.

Chief of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Division (IRSCI) Jim Lee details the 2022 results of his “BSA Challenge” to his staff. The Challenge explores and explains the value to law enforcement of Bank Secrecy Act data---CTRs, SARs, CMIRs, FBARS and Form 8300’s.

This week Transparency International released its 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). The CPI uses a number of criteria to evaluate the status of corruption in 180 countries. For 2022 the global average remained unchanged at 43 on a 100 point scale. The report shows that 124 countries have not made any change since 2021 and the number of countries declining has increased. John and Elliot discuss some of the findings in the CPI and the links between corruption, deterioration in human rights, the rise of authoritarianism, and the continuing assault on democracy.

his week a retired senior FBI agent Charles McGonigal was arrested on charges of money laundering and violating US sanctions. Also this week, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued an alert on Potential U.S. Commercial Real Estate Investments by Sanctioned Russian Elites, Oligarchs, and Their Proxies. John and Elliot discuss the arrest and its implications for national security and look at the details of the alert including the typologies and red flags included in it. They also examine McGonigal’s relationship to a sanctioned Russian oligarch and efforts by other sanctioned oligarchs to us real estate transactions to hide and preserve their wealth.

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued an alert focused on human smuggling along the southwest board of the US. John and Elliot review the major elements of the alert – including SAR filing guidance, red flags, and the difference between human smuggling and human trafficking. They also discuss the importance of financial services companies partnering with law enforcement to identify and prevent the terrible global crime.

The Eurasia Group, a consultancy focusing on political risk, has published its Top Risks - 2023. John and Elliot look at the purpose of the report and how it can be helpful to the financial crime compliance community in assessing and managing risk. They also discuss some of the specific risks called out in the report.

The primary US bank regulators - the Federal Reserve, FDIC, and OCC - issued a joint statement on crypto-asset risks to banking organizations. The statement lists several risks on which the regulators are focusing. John and Elliot discuss some of the risks and speculate on where regulators may be heading in this space.

This episode originally aired on July 29, 2022. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recently issued updated Guidance for a Risk-Based Approach to the Real Estate Sector. The updated guidance focuses on the importance of member countries to bring the real estate sector into their money laundering/terrorist financing regimes. John and Elliot discuss the guidance, including the breadth of its coverage, the need for understanding and training of real estate professionals, and how the timing of the guidance intersects with FinCEN’s request for information about the sector.

This episode originally aired on October 7, 2022. This week, the Basel Institute on Governance published its 2022 AML Index. The index assesses countries’ money laundering and terrorist financing risks and capacity to counter them. John and Elliot chat about how the index is constructed, what it says about the state of the global response to these risks, and other key take-aways from this year’s report.

The US Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission have announced resolution of charges against Danske Bank. The Bank pled guilty to fraud on US banks and agreed to forfeit $2 billion. It also agreed to settle related claims by the SEC. John and Elliot discuss the details of Danske Bank’s activities, which went on between 2008 to 2016. They also talk about how this case illustrates some of the risks that arise in correspondent banking relationships and the vigilance needed to manage those risks.

It has been a busy week for US government pronouncements on national security and terrorism. The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security gave a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the majority staff of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs issued a report on The Rising Threat of Domestic Terrorism. The remarks and the report each look at the challenges faced by governments in identifying and responding to terrorist threats and how to deal with the changing threat landscape. John and Elliot look at key points of the speech and the report. They discuss the increasing risks presented by domestic terrorism, the recommendations in the report, and the evolving view at DHS on the dangers we face and how partnerships among government agencies, international partners, and the private sector are critical to long-term success.

Former FBI Supervisory Special Agent on the International Corruption Unit Debra LaPrevotte discusses her career work investigating global corruption and its clear impact on communities. She is currently on a new podcast, “A Nation For Thieves” that delves into kleptocrats, notorious corrupt countries and how ill gotten gains are recovered by law enforcement and their partners.

The White House has published a Fact Sheet: Summit for Democracy: Progress in the Year of Action. It discusses activities taken since the first Summit for Democracy, held a year ago. The White House also announced a second Summit to be held in March 2023. A key goal of the first summit was curbing corruption. John and Elliot look at the progress made on this initiative, how corruption impacts the health of democratic nations, and other actions taken in the last year.

This episode originally aired on June 17, 2022.  FinCEN has issued updated guidance on Elder Financial Exploitation (EFE). The new Advisory looks at the increasing volume of thefts and scams targeted at the elderly and includes both behavioral and financial red flags. John and Elliot discuss the growing problem of EFE, some of the key messages in the Advisory, and efforts by financial service providers to detect and deter these frauds and thefts.

This week The US Treasury issued a report, Assessing the Impact of New Entrant Non-bank Firms on Competition in Consumer Finance Markets. The report examines the current state of innovation and competition between banks and non-bank financial service providers and makes several recommendations. John and Elliot discuss key aspects of the report and the recommendations. They also talk about how the recent collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX may influence the approach of legislators and regulators going forward.

The US Treasury and its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) have announced new sanctions against a number of individuals and entities involved in supplying illicit fentanyl and other illegal substances. The action was coordinated with the Netherlands and the UK. John and Elliot discuss the new sanctions and the importance of the multi-lateral cooperation which led to them.