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When I'm not writing this blog, I'm doing AML training, writing, research and advice. Obsessed? Hell, yeah! To find out more, have a look at my website.“The Solo Squid: How to Run a Happy One-Person Business”
“Heir Apparent” – the sixth Sam Plank novel
FREE Official Guide to the Sam Plank Mysteries – sample chapters and glossary
New e-boxset of first three Sam Plank e-books! Click image to buy…
“Faith, Hope and Trickery” – the fifth Sam Plank novel
New piggy in the sty! This one is for UK estate agents
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Recent posts
Collection of columns: “Susan in the City: The Cambridge News Years”
“Portraits of Pretence” – the fourth Sam Plank novel
Sam speaks! New audiobook of “Fatal Forgery”
“Worm in the Blossom” – the third Sam Plank novel
AML for NEDs in five editions: Guernsey, Isle of Man, International, Jersey and UK
AML books for UK staff
AML books for Guernsey staff
AML books for Jersey staff
AML books for Gibraltar staff
“The Man in the Canary Waistcoat” – the second Sam Plank novel
“Fatal Forgery” – the first Sam Plank novel
Edward’s adventures now out in 6-part e-format
Another good read
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Blogroll
Tag Archives: beneficial ownership
Shady trade-y
Right at the start of my working life, just after the Industrial Revolution, I did one of those early personality tests. I’m struggling to remember what it was called (something about umbrellas, or maybe anchors?) but it was meant to … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged AML, APG, beneficial ownership, CDD, FATF, MLRO, money laundering, National Risk Assessment, NRA, TBML, trade-based money laundering
4 Comments
No, no, no to UWO, UWO, UWO
Most of us in the world of AML have welcomed the advent of the Unexplained Wealth Order – the court order introduced by the Criminal Finances Act 2017, which can be served to compel either a PEP or someone involved … Continue reading
Posted in AML, Bribery and corruption, Money laundering
Tagged AML, Azerbaijan, beneficial ownership, corruption, due diligence, financial crime, government, Kazakhstan, money laundering, National Crime Agency, NCA, PEP, Politically Exposed Person, proceeds of crime, suspicion, tax evasion, Unexplained Wealth Order, UWO
2 Comments
The law(yer) is an ass
AML efforts tend to move in one direction: more, greater, stronger, bigger – whatever the right adjective may be. Occasionally we see an unwinding (as when many jurisdictions removed general insurance business from the AML family) but for the most … Continue reading
Launderer seeks splendour without diminishment
It cannot have escaped your notice that Canada is in a lather about its real estate sector being used for money laundering. Stories are appearing seemingly every day about some new scheme or other that has been uncovered, thanks in … Continue reading
Posted in AML, Money laundering, Organised crime, Uncategorized
Tagged AML, beneficial ownership, Canada, estate agent, FinTRAC, FIU, High Value Dealer, lawyer, luxury vehicles, money laundering, organised crime, real estate
1 Comment
Cleaning house
Last week I attended an event at the elegant Whitehall premises of RUSI at which they launched “No Rest for the Wicked”, their report into what the UK’s next steps should be, now that we have (to quote the modest … Continue reading
Posted in AML, Due diligence, Money laundering
Tagged AML, beneficial ownership, Companies House, disclosure, due diligence, FATF, financial crime, government, legislation, money laundering, publications, research, RUSI
4 Comments
Voting for AML
I’m not a great fan of many of our current politicians – I’m sure you know why. But I do like Angela Merkel, and in particular Tracy Ullman’s version of Angela Merkel. And I have recently come to admire Elizabeth … Continue reading
Posted in AML, Money laundering, Uncategorized
Tagged AML, Bank Secrecy Act, beneficial ownership, HSBC, legislation, money laundering
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House of horrors?
With the acres of newsprint devoted in recent months to the topic of registration of beneficial ownership, it is interesting to consider the role of the registrars. Companies – and other structures – are required to submit returns, and to … Continue reading
Posted in AML, Due diligence, Legislation
Tagged beneficial ownership, Companies House, company, PSC register
1 Comment
Salvator emptor
The recent record-breaking sale of “Salvator Mundi” highlighted two things – one a surprise, and the other not. The surprise was that this is the most expensive painting by Leonardo DiCaprio that has ever been sold. I kid you not: … Continue reading
Posted in AML, Due diligence, Money laundering
Tagged AML, art, beneficial ownership, due diligence, financial crime, money laundering, PEP, proceeds of crime
2 Comments
Cramped corporate quarters
Like many of you, I am sure, my interest was piqued last week by the story that broke on the Beeb (or at least that’s where I first heard it) about shell companies in Scotland allegedly being used to launder … Continue reading
Posted in AML, Money laundering
Tagged AML, beneficial ownership, due diligence, enhanced due diligence, financial crime, money laundering, research, suspicion
10 Comments
How do you talk to someone about their BO?
No, not that particular problem: thanks to the proliferation of manly deodorants called things like Overlord or Hunkmeister, plus aircon, the problem of the whiffy colleague has generally gone. I’m talking about that other unmentionable: beneficial ownership. With the revision … Continue reading