The ACAMS Connection is a bi-weekly e-newsletter exclusive to ACAMS members. It provides members with a snapshot of anti-money laundering (AML) current events, the latest trends in financial crime and updates on what is new to the ACAMS community. The ACAMS Connection is the trusted source by ACAMS members for staying on top of industry best practices.
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In the latest episode of the “Sanctions Space” podcast, Justine is joined by Giles Thomson, director of the U.K. Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI). They discuss sanctions priorities for the U.K. government, the evolving enforcement landscape and transatlantic cooperation between OFSI and the Office...
Amy Wotapka, CAMS, is a lifelong banker with more than 20 years in the anti-financial crime (AFC) industry. Beginning her career as a suspicious activity investigator, Wotapka now serves as Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) officer for First American...
Based on a 2009 study by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), it is estimated that criminal proceeds generated 3.6% ($2.1 trillion) of the global GDP. However, the total amount of money generated through criminal proceeds cannot be measured accurately because of...
In the latest episode of the “Sanctions Space” podcast, Justine Walker is joined by Matthew S. Axelrod, assistant secretary for Export Enforcement at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security. They discuss the evolving role of export controls, ramping up engagement across...
Qatargate sent shock waves around the EU and served as a pertinent reminder of the heightened corruption risks posed by politically exposed persons (PEPs). The status of a PEP figure like Eva Kaili, former European Parliament member, is associated with privileged decision-making powers, accompanied by...
Russia is currently the world’s most-sanctioned country in history. The number of currently active sanctions against Russia exceeds 18,800, which is four times more than the sanctions against Iran and almost nine times more than those against North Korea.1 Nevertheless, in 2023, the growth rate...
Intelligence is a cycle of gathering, analyzing and reporting information to guide operations. The most telling information, however, is often not what you have been able to gather but rather what is missing. Information without analysis is like puzzle pieces scattered on a table. Analysis...
In this “Financial Crime Matters” episode, Kieran Beer talks with Daniel Stipano, partner at Davis Polk & Wardwell about the unfolding requirements of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) and Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 and their impact on law enforcement, and financial as well as...
Unlicensed money transmitting and sanctions violations by Binance Holdings Limited (Binance), the entity that operates the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance.com, and its CEO Changpeng Zhao resulted in both the company and Zhao pleading guilty on the grounds of engagement in money laundering on November...
In the summer of 2023, a peculiar political issue made headlines in Austria: The conservative government, responding to cross-party concerns about a digital euro initiative, began exploring ways to establish a right to cash payments in the constitution. A few other countries have had similar...
