FinCEN US

Today, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) published its first set of guidance materials to aid the public, and in particular the small business community, in understanding upcoming beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting requirements taking effect on January 1, 2024. The new regulations require many corporations, limited liability companies, and other entities created in or registered to do business in the United States to report information about their beneficial owners—the persons who ultimately own or control the company—to FinCEN. “The Corporate Transparency Act, through its beneficial ownership reporting requirements, provides the historic opportunity to unmask shell companies and protect the...

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) is informing U.S. financial institutions that the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an intergovernmental body that establishes international standards for anti-money laundering, countering the financing of terrorism, and countering the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (AML/CFT/CPF), issued a public statement on February 24 at the conclusion of its plenary meeting announcing its suspension of the Russian Federation’s membership from FATF. The statement notes that “the Russian Federation’s actions unacceptably run counter to the FATF core principles aiming to promote security, safety, and the integrity of the global financial system.” The...

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) is issuing an alert to financial institutions on the nationwide surge in check fraud schemes targeting the U.S. Mail. Fraud, including check fraud, is the largest source of illicit proceeds in the United States and is one of the anti-money laundering/countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) National Priorities. In coordination with the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), FinCEN has identified red flags to help financial institutions detect, prevent, and report suspicious activity connected to mail theft-related check fraud. “FinCEN is proud to partner with the United States Postal Inspection Service in producing this important...

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) is issuing an alert to financial institutions on potential investments in the U.S. commercial real estate sector by sanctioned Russian elites, oligarchs, their family members, and the entities through which they act. The alert lists potential red flags and typologies involving attempted sanctions evasion in the commercial real estate sector, and reminds financial institutions of their Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) reporting obligations. The new alert complements ongoing U.S. government efforts to isolate sanctioned Russian elites, oligarchs, and their proxies from the international financial system, and is part of a broader effort by the...

Action is the First Order Issued under Powerful New “Section 9714” Authority Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued an order that identifies the virtual currency exchange Bitzlato Limited (Bitzlato) as a “primary money laundering concern” in connection with Russian illicit finance. This is the first order issued pursuant to section 9714(a) of the Combating Russian Money Laundering Act, as amended, and highlights the serious threat that business operations that facilitate and support Russian illicit finance pose to U.S. national security and the integrity of the U.S. financial sector. The order prohibits certain transmittals...

Financial Trend Analysis_Russian Oligarchs FTA _Final.pdf This news item was originally published by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN US). For more information, please see the Source Link.

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued a Financial Trend Analysis today on the financial activity of Russian oligarchs. The report focuses on trends seen in Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) reports filed between March 2022 and October 2022 involving Russian oligarchs, high-ranking officials, and sanctioned individuals. The report also highlights the value of BSA data filed by regulated financial institutions. FinCEN and BSA reporting contribute to the multilateral Russian Elites, Proxies, and Oligarchs (REPO) Task Force, led jointly by the Departments of the Treasury and Justice. The REPO Task Force has leveraged extensive multilateral coordination to block or freeze more...

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) today issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would implement provisions of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) that govern the access to and protection of beneficial ownership information. This NPRM proposes regulations that would govern the circumstances under which such information may be disclosed to Federal agencies; state, local, tribal, and foreign governments; and financial institutions, and how it must be protected. The proposed regulations specify how government officials would access beneficial ownership information in order to support law enforcement, national security, and intelligence activities. They also describe how certain financial institutions and...

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) held its annual ceremony earlier this month to honor the recipients of the FinCEN Director’s Law Enforcement Awards for 2022. The law enforcement agencies and officials who received awards were recognized because of the critical role that Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) data played in the successful pursuit and prosecution of criminal cases. “Financial institutions’ anti-money laundering detection and suspicious activity reporting programs provide a critical set of eyes and ears as we collectively seek to mitigate the risks of financial crime and combat illicit activity,” Under Secretary of Treasury’s Office of Terrorism and Financial...

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) today issued its most recent Financial Trend Analysis of ransomware-related Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) filings for 2021, indicating that ransomware continued to pose a significant threat to U.S. critical infrastructure sectors, businesses, and the public. The report focuses on ransomware trends in BSA filings from July-December 2021, and addresses the extent to which a substantial number of ransomware attacks appear to be connected to actors in Russia. “Today’s report reminds us that ransomware—including attacks perpetrated by Russian-linked actors— remain a serious threat to our national and economic security,” said FinCEN Acting Director Himamauli Das....

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has assessed a civil money penalty in the amount of $29,280,829.20 against Bittrex, for violations of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and FinCEN’s implementing regulations.  FinCEN’s action is part of a global settlement with the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). “For years, Bittrex’s AML program and SAR reporting failures unnecessarily exposed the U.S. financial system to threat actors,” said FinCEN Acting Director Himamauli Das. “Bittrex’s failures created exposure to high-risk counterparties including sanctioned jurisdictions, darknet markets, and ransomware attackers. Virtual asset service providers are on notice that they must implement robust risk-based compliance...

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has assessed a civil money penalty in the amount of $29,280,829.20 against Bittrex, for violations of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and FinCEN’s implementing regulations.  FinCEN’s action is part of a global settlement with the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). “For years, Bittrex’s AML program and SAR reporting failures unnecessarily exposed the U.S. financial system to threat actors,” said FinCEN Acting Director Himamauli Das. “Bittrex’s failures created exposure to high-risk counterparties including sanctioned jurisdictions, darknet markets, and ransomware attackers. Virtual asset service providers are on notice that they must implement robust risk-based compliance...