This month the new SAR form is to be rolled out by FinCEN. A mere 10 years after the collapse of the largest Ponzi scheme in history, financial institutions will now be able to report suspected Ponzi schemes with a dedicated Fraud typology checkbox. So what should financial institutions be on the look-out for regarding Ponzi more »
FinCEN recently released stats on the 314(a) information request program. FinCEN stated that over 16,000 financial institutions are contacted every two weeks with new subject names provided by federal, state, local and foreign law enforcement of persons who may be involved in money laundering or terrorism. The requests contain subject and business names, addresses, more »
Dynamic Securities Analytics, Inc (‘DSA’) analyzed a FinCEN report which provided data on Suspicious Activity Reports (‘SARs’) referencing 314(b) information sharing among financial institutions. What is 314(b)? FinCEN’s 314(b) FactSheet explains that “Section 314(b) of the USA PATRIOT Act provides financial institutions with the ability to share information with one another, under a safe harbor that more »
Much attention has been given to Attorney General Sessions rescission of the Cole Memo which offered guidance to DOJ attorneys and law enforcement on what types of types of marijuana cases to prioritize. Lost in the commentary is the fact that FinCEN’s guidance to financial institutions regarding Marijuana Related Businesses (‘MRB’) has not changed or more »
Alison Jimenez, president of Dynamic Securities Analytics, was quoted in a recent Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists article titled “Criminals Turning to Online Rentals to Launder Money” by Brian Monroe. “Online marketplaces such as Airbnb are attractive to money launderers for several reasons,” said Alison Jimenez, President of Tampa, Fl.-based Dynamic Securities Analytics, a more »
Dynamic Securities Analytics, Inc. analyzed 2017 SAR-SF filings from FinCEN’s SAR Stats to identify filing trends by securities firms regulated by the SEC. Securities firms filed 5 SARs for “Other Suspicious Activity” for every 1 SAR filed relating to securities fraud schemes. Securities firms filed 4.8 SARs for Fraud schemes for every 1 Securities Fraud more »
Multiple media outlets have reported that the gunman responsible for mass shooting in Las Vegas was the subject of over 200 Currency Transaction Reports (‘CTR’) and/or Suspicious Activity Reports (‘SAR’) filings. Dynamic Securities Analytics, Inc. (‘DSA’) prepared the analysis below of 2017 Casino SAR filings for Clark County, Nevada. There were 8,028 SARs filed in more »
FinCEN Targets Luxury Real Estate FinCEN has issued a series of Geographic Targeting Orders (‘GTO’) regarding certain high dollar value real estate transactions. FinCEN explained that the GTO will “require U.S. title insurance companies to identify the natural persons behind shell companies used to pay all cash for high-end residential real estate” and file more »
Alison Jimenez, President of Dynamic Securities Analytics, Inc., was quoted in a May 16, 2017 moneylaundering.com article titled “New Sentencing Guidelines Signal Consequences for Banking Marijuana Firms” by Valentina Pasquali. The article focused on Attorney General Sessions Department Charging and Sentencing Policy issued on May 10th which Pasquali notes “directs federal prosecutors to pursue criminal more »
Pyramid Scheme SAR Filings Spike Dynamic Securities Analytics (“DSA’) has identified a trend in pyramid schemers utilizing social media platforms to execute their fraud. DSA analyzed FinCEN SAR Stat data and found a 340% increase in pyramid scheme Suspicious Activity Report (‘SAR’) filings by Money Services Businesses (‘MSB’) in monthly filing rates in 2017 more »
Dynamic Securities Analytics, Inc (“DSA”) analyzed 2016 SAR filings reported in FinCEN’s SAR Stats database. DSA will be posting a series of articles on the analysis with today’s post covering financial instruments used in suspicious activity. Visual Relationships The bubble chart below shows the relationships between Suspicious Activity Types, Products, Instrument (ie. payment mechanism) more »
Dynamic Securities Analytics, Inc (“DSA”) analyzed 2016 SAR filings reported in FinCEN’s SAR Stats database. DSA will be posting a series of articles on the analysis with today’s post providing a general overview and key findings. Key Findings Elder abuse saw the largest jump in SAR filings with an increase of 117% over 2015 more »
ACAMS Today published an article titled “Unmasking Bias in AML Algorithms” by DSA president, Alison Jimenez, in the Sept- Nov 2016 issue. As anti-money laundering (AML) departments increase their reliance on analytics and algorithms, the need to unmask potential bias in AML algorithms is a topic that can no longer be avoided. The article more »
Part of the Problem Anti-Money Laundering (“AML”) regulatory enforcement actions often cite poor AML training as contributing to the environment that allowed a violation to occur at a financial institution. Very often, the same enforcement action mandates more AML training. That makes me wonder why doing more of something that the financial institution was doing more »
In my upcoming article titled “Unmasking Bias in AML Algorithms” in the September/October edition of ACAMS Today, I explore the potential for bias (racial, ethnic, religious, gender, etc.) in Anti-Money Laundering algorithms used by financial institutions to detect potential suspicious activity. The most serious outcome of activity flagged by an AML algorithm results in more »
The Tampa Bay Business Journal published an article titled “Financial crimes experts get in the weeds over marijuana banking services” by Margie Manning. DSA president, Alison Jimenez, was quoted several times about the challenges that financial institutions have dealing with state-legalized marijuana businesses. The financial institutions often find themselves facing a Catch-22 situation, whether more »
Alison Jimenez, President of Dynamic Securities Analytics (“DSA”), was interviewed for an article titled “Securities Firms Offer Warm(er) Reception to Marijuana Industry, Says Former Examiner” by Larissa Bernardes of moneylaundering.com. The interview centered around securities firms’ interactions with state-legalized marijuana businesses. Below is a excerpt: Which questions should broker-dealers be asking when they’re approached more »
The Credit Union Journal published a slideshow version of Alison Jimenez’ Op-Ed on Marijuana Banking Myths. See the full article here. DSA’s analysis of marijuana-related Suspicious Activity Reports was also cited in “Shh! Here’s How Cannabis Companies are Banking on the Low Down” by Bruce Barnett.
Dynamic Securities Analytics’ analysis of marijuana-related SARs was cited by the Wall Street Journal. The WSJ: Risk and Compliance Journal included DSA’s analysis in the latest edition of “Corruption Currents.” See DSA’s analysis of securities broker’s engaging with marijuana-related businesses here and how the latest SAR data has international implications here.
Dynamics Securities Analytics, Inc. was cited in a recent American Banker article titled “Legal Clash Exposes Contradictions in Fed’s Pot-Banking Rules” by Chris Cummings. Read DSA’s blog post “New Marijuana Banking SAR Data has International Implications” to learn more about how financial institutions are engaging with marijuana-related businesses.
By Alison Jimenez, Dynamic Securities Analytics, Inc. and Steven Kemmerling, MRB Monitor The quickly-growing state-legalized marijuana industry creates a number of unique compliance and AML/BSA challenges for Financial Institutions (“FIs”).^ MRB Monitor, which helps financial institutions mitigate risk related to the industry, has identified 8,000+ Marijuana Related Businesses (“MRBs”). As such, it may be naïve to more »
By Alison Jimenez, Dynamic Securities Analytics, Inc. and Steven Kemmerling, MRB Monitor Securities Brokers Engaging with Marijuana Businesses Forty-one securities brokers filed Suspicious Activity Reports (“SARs”) regarding Marijuana Related Businesses from February 2014 through July 1, 2015. The count includes securities firms that terminated marijuana accounts. Securities brokers accounted for 8% of the financial more »
The latest issue of ACAMS Today features an article by Steven Kemmerling and Brian Arrington titled “Conflict and Uncertainty: Due Diligence Challenges for Marijuana-Related Businesses.” The article cites DSA’s analysis of marijuana-related Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs). The full article can be read here.
The Marijuana Businesses Access to Banking Act of 2015 bill’s stated purpose is: to create protections for depository institutions that provide financial services to marijuana-related businesses, and for other purposes. A press release by one of the co-sponsors, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), points out the following: “Forcing businessmen and businesswomen who are operating legally under Oregon state law more »
It’s Suspicious to Not be Suspicious SEC Enforcement Chief Andrew Ceresney made headlines when he said: I can say that the number of firms that filed zero SARs or one SAR per year was disturbingly large. Unfortunately, Chief Ceresney did not provide the number of broker-dealer firms that filed zero or 1 SAR more »
Dynamic Securities Analytics, Inc. (“DSA”) analyzed Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) filed with FinCEN from March 2012 through March 2015 that identified “Bribery/Gratuity” as the activity at issue. The analysis was undertaken to understand the characteristics of customer activity identified as potential bribery from a financial institution’s viewpoint. Key Takeaways: 1,780 SARs were filed more »
Get the latest stats on the individuals and entities under indictment or convicted in the FIFA corruption scandal. Search the roster by charge, charge status, and nationality. See the bottom table for key stats like age, title and role. FIFA Indictment & Conviction Roster
In the modern age of bitcoin and computer algorithms, it appears that old-fashioned cash transactions initially tipped off the government to the alleged crimes by former Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert and FIFA officials. Money laundering can be quite complex. For example, one of the alleged schemes in the FIFA indictment involved moving funds more »
On April 22nd, 2015 FinCEN released In Focus: SAR Stats (April 2015). Dynamic Securities Analytics, Inc. (“DSA“) analyzed the new Suspicious Activity Report-Securities/Futures (“SAR-SF”) data and found that Market Manipulation/Wash Trades SARs have increased 63% from 2014 and 105% from 2013 levels (on a quarterly basis)*. The same day FinCEN released the latest SAR Stats, Navinder more »
Matt Ferner of the Huffington Post cited DSA’s analysis of Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) in his article titled “Some Banks are Working with Marijuana Businesses, but they Remain Wary.” DSA president, Alison Jimenez, was also quoted in the article. See an excerpt below: DSA notes the total reports (SARs) filed add up to 3,341 more »
Rachel Louise Ensign of the Wall Street Journal reported on DSA’s analysis of Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) regarding marijuana-related businesses. “More than 1,700 suspicious activity reports using the phrase “marijuana limited” have been filed from 25 states since the agency of the U.S. Department of the Treasury in February advised financial institutions to use more »
By Alison Jimenez, Dynamic Securities Analytics & Steven Kemmerling, Enhanced Compliance Solutions Pursuant to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, on April 6th the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) provided Dynamic Securities Analytics (“DSA”) with new data on Suspicious Activity Report (“SAR”) activity relating to “marijuana industries.” In the disclosure to DSA, FinCEN reported that 3,157 more »
Dynamic Securities Analytics analyzed the latest FinCEN In Focus: SAR Stat report and found that SAR-Securities & Futures filings increased by 45% in 2014 over 2013 filings. 22,448 SAR-SFs were filed in 2014 versus 15,457 in 2013. Try out DSA’s interactive analytics below. SAR-SFs can be filtered by activity type, percentage and count change from more »
FinCEN released In Focus: SAR Stats (Jan 2015 Quarterly Update) which includes all 2014 Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs). In total, FinCEN reported 1,726,731 SARs filed in 2014 compared against 1,276,002 filed in 2013. This is a 35% increase in SAR filings over the 2013 levels. Major Increases in Most Industries Dynamic Securities Analytics, Inc. analyzed the FinCEN more »
DSA President, Alison Jimenez, will be a speaker for the upcoming Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (ACAMS) webinar “Spotting and Removing Problem Employees.” The live webinar will be held May 13th from 12:00-2:00 EST. Registration is available through the ACAMS website. A full description of the webinar can be found below. Spotting and more »
SARs Rules #1 Do not talk about SARs #2 Do NOT talk about SARs It may seem odd but the Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) confidentiality rules are almost identical to the Fight Club rules. While there are confidentiality exemptions for sharing information within a financial services institution or with law enforcement, there remains a more »
Fill in this blank: __________________ Due Diligence. If you are like most AML professionals, “Customer” was the first and only answer that came to mind. The importance of Customer Due Diligence has been drummed into the mind of AML practitioners and is a common training topic. However, the recent indictment of a former TD Bank more »
Drug dealers get the most attention but tax evasion is by far the largest source of laundered funds. DSA analyzed US crime estimates 1 and found that there is $14.06 in dirty money generated from tax evasion for every $1 generated by illegal drug sales. Similarly, tax evasion generates $3.81 dollars to every $1 for other more »
DSA president, Alison Jimenez, will be a panelist on the “Total Due Diligence: Know Your Customer, Vendors and Employees” presentation at the 13th Annual ACAMS AML and Financial Crime conference in Las Vegas. The presentation will be Tuesday, September 30th at 3:15. Ms. Jimenez will be speaking on Employee Due Diligence. Her fellow panelist more »
Customers Represent the Minority of SAR Subjects for Most Institutions DSA analyzed FinCEN’s SAR Stats report to assess the nature of the filer’s relationship with the SAR subject. Securities/Futures,Money Services Businesses (MSB), Insurance or Other Firms^ characterize the filer/subject relationship as “customer” in less than 1/3 of Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs). The filer/subject relationship was more »
Learn About Tableau My goal was to create an interactive map of Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) to determine what customer activity was reported as “suspicious” in each state. I planned to then declare that “Mississippi Tops the Ranks in ___ Fraud” and “Ohio is the Riskiest State for ____.” Instead, I was schooled more »
FinCEN’s record retention policy is detailed in the “Request For Records Disposition Authority” that FinCEN submitted to the National Archives and Records Administration. FinCEN’s policy for retaining CTRs, FBARs and SARs is as follows: Delete/destroy data when 11 years old or when no longer needed for administrative, legal, audit, or other operational purposes, whichever is later. Older, more »
When the Bank Secrecy Act passed in October 1970 with the $10,000 Currency Transaction Report (CTR) threshold, the average US annual salary was $6,186. A new car cost $3,900 and the Jackson 5’s song “I’ll be There” was number one on the Billboard charts. All that has changed, except for the Currency Transaction Report threshold. more »
In 2012 there was 1 federal money laundering conviction per 2,047 Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) filed. If Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs) are included, then there was 1 federal money laundering conviction for every 19,379 CTR & SAR filed. Looking at trends from 2003 through 2012, the number of federal money laundering cases commenced decreased by 26.8% while all SAR filings more »
A ponzi schemer would follow these rules in order to keep the scheme going for as long as possible: Encourage “reinvestment” of income. The less income the schemer pays out, the longer the scheme will last. Moderate the amount stolen each year. If he steals a smaller amount each year, the scheme will last more »
DSA analyzed the SAR-SF filing data reported by FinCEN to determine whether firms more often report suspicious money laundering activity or suspected predicate crimes. Every Anti-Money Laundering (AML) intro course teaches that money laundering is composed of three steps: Introduction, Layering and Integration. However, first must come a crime that generates illicit proceeds. Predicate crimes more »
