Tag Archives: suspicion

Planes and pandemics

Posted on March 18, 2020 by

One of the challenges of AML work is keeping up with the endless adaptability and imagination of criminals.  Unshackled by moral considerations, or by the need to report to risk committees or by the requirement to comply with legislation (quite … Continue reading →

Posted in Fraud, Money laundering, Organised crime | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

This time it’s personal

Posted on March 11, 2020 by

We’re fairly accustomed now to seeing firms of various stripe fined for AML failings, but for all the talk of personal accountability and statements of responsibility it is still rare for individuals to be held liable for poor AML behaviour. … Continue reading →

Posted in AML, Due diligence, Money laundering | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

More Bloody Embezzlement?

Posted on March 4, 2020 by

Just like police officers, customs officers and passport officers, MLROs find themselves doing a certain amount of profiling when it comes to looking for high risk clients.  We know about certain high risk occupations and high risk nationalities and even … Continue reading →

Posted in Bribery and corruption, Money laundering, White collar crime | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The sniff test

Posted on February 5, 2020 by

The relationship between jewellers and the AML regime is a complicated one.  For several years most jurisdictions have recognised the concept of the “high value dealer” – under UK legislation, that’s “a firm or sole trader who by way of … Continue reading →

Posted in Money laundering, AML | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

From little acorns

Posted on September 18, 2019 by

Apologies for the confusion at the start of my blog post on 4 September: I was not back at all, but actually watching elephants swimming in Botswana.  I wrote a couple of posts in advance, to cover my absence, and … Continue reading →

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Rock and roll lifestyle

Posted on May 22, 2019 by

I don’t often use this blog simply to repeat money laundering stories that are already in the press but some are just too good to ignore.  May I introduce you to Paul Bettie.  He’s sixty-five now, but back in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Money laundering, Organised crime | Tagged , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Inside the tent but still p***ing in

Posted on May 8, 2019 by

In my guise as a magistrate I have become familiar with a thrilling document called the “Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Guidelines”.  It’s an entirely public, well, publication, as justice is meant to be transparent and accessible to all.  And if you … Continue reading →

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Purple, portable and prized

Posted on March 20, 2019 by

Cash is an odd thing: like the Cheshire Cat in Wonderland, it periodically disappears and then once again reappears.  In my next blog post I will talk about disappearing cash but this week I want to tell you about Switzerland, … Continue reading →

Posted in AML, Money laundering | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Cut on the bias

Posted on March 13, 2019 by

We’re all biased – there’s no getting away from it.  My own particular unfair bias is against taxi drivers; as a cyclist I have been sworn at, side-swiped and (once) squeezed with my bike against the back of a lorry … Continue reading →

Posted in AML, Due diligence, Money laundering | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Money launder-gig

Posted on February 20, 2019 by

I’m always surprised – although I try not to show it – when people ask me how money laundering actually works, as there is an almost infinite number of ways in which criminals can move their money around.  Invent a … Continue reading →

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