The Dark Money Files

We take a dive into Russian sanctions' evasion through the obscurely named A7 company jointly owned by Ilan Shor (of Moldovan Banking Scandal fame) and PSB Bank (formerly Promsvyazbank). And it's quite a journey!  Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-dark-money-files-ltd/ on Twitter at  https://twitter.com/dark_files or see our w...

We look at how the recent implementation of identity verification either direct or through an Authorised Company Service Provider (ACSP) at Companies House, might have changed the landscape of incorporations (HINT: it has). Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-dark-money-files-ltd/ on Twitter at  https://twitter.com/dark_files or see our w...

In this episode we couldn't resist a deep dive into the recent UBS fine by four (yes, four) US regulators and what that means for anyone working in the Financial Crime Compliance space Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-dark-money-files-ltd/ on Twitter at  https://twitter.com/dark_files or see our website at  https://www.thedarkmone...

In a slightly longer than normal episode we do a deep dive into partnerships of various flavours and how the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act is going to change things. Partnerships are not straightforward (hence the longer episode) but they are sensitive to abuse so this is an important topic for financial crime professionals. And there is the offer of a free gift at the end of the e...

We take a look at the effect of human behaviour on our ability to stop criminals gaining access to the financial system and why that system is more likely to produce comprehensive documents than effective detection. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-dark-money-files-ltd/ on Twitter at  https://twitter.com/dark_files or see our website a...

We look at the role of Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs) in the new regime at Companies House and explain why understanding both its strengths and weaknesses is important to anyone responsible for onboarding or monitoring UK companies, wherever in the world you work. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-dark-money-files-ltd/ o...

One for the geeks!  Changes in company formation levels are often use to justify/criticise different governments' economic policies. We go behind the headline figures to see if this is justified or not (HINT: not!). Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-dark-money-files-ltd/ on Twitter at  https://twitter.com/dark_files or see our webs...

Ten years after the creation of the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, we look at how the UK sanctions regime has evolved—from early uncertainty to strict liability enforcement, sanctions list complexity, and the growing expectations on the private sector.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-dark-money-files-ltd/ on Twitter at...

Today we tackle some colourful risk lists or, to be a bit more precise, some black and grey ones, along with some strange differentials.  Like how come the UK has a high risk third country list when there are no second countries in sight? Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-dark-money-files-ltd/ on Twitter at  https://twitter.com/dark_fil...

In the second of a two part, end of year podcast, we continue to explain how we helped with a major BBC investigation into crime on the high street, involving the sale of illicit cigarettes and vapes, modern human slavery, people trafficking, tax evasion, corruption and money laundering. In this episode, undercover filming unearths a shocking story and we explain our part in finding some of the pr...

In the first of a two part, end of year episode, we explain how we helped with a major BBC investigation into crime on the high street, involving the sale of illicit cigarettes and vapes, modern human slavery, people trafficking, tax evasion, corruption and money laundering. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-dark-money-files-ltd/ on Twi...

We examine two recent final notices issued by two different regulators relating to two quite different enterprises and find a surprising amount of commonality in their thinking. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-dark-money-files-ltd/ on Twitter at  https://twitter.com/dark_files or see our website at  https://www.thedarkmoneyfiles.com/

In the first of a new, occasional series, in which we sit down and chat to fellow anti-financial crime professionals, we kick off with Marit Rødevand from Strise to talk about AI and other new fangled gizmos. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-dark-money-files-ltd/ on Twitter at  https://twitter.com/dark_files or see our website at  http...

The UK Insolvency Service does a lot more than just oversee insolvencies and, in a recently published five year strategy document, they outlined some ambitious future goals which we thought were well worth a conversation. So we had one! Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-dark-money-files-ltd/ on Twitter at  https://twitter.com/dark_files...

The FCA recently published new guidance specifically in relation to UK PEPs which we decided needed a closer look. So we did! Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-dark-money-files-ltd/ on Twitter at  https://twitter.com/dark_files or see our website at  https://www.thedarkmoneyfiles.com/

In this episode we explain how we supported a major BBC investigation into a Hungarian organised crime group which was systematically forging wills and stealing the assets belonging to the estate from under the noses of the true beneficiaries. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-dark-money-files-ltd/ on Twitter at  https://twitter.com/dar...

In this episode, we chat about a recently published report by Transparency International (see: https://www.transparency.org.uk/news/trust-issues-tackling-final-frontier-secret-property-ownership ) and how it impacts on our ability to identify the true ownership of real estate in the UK (and elsewhere). Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

We bring you our latest deep dive into the world of crazy company incorporations and weird worldwide coincidences by way of North London, New Zealand and a much loved British sit-com. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-dark-money-files-ltd/ on Twitter at  https://twitter.com/dark_files or see our website at  https://www.thedarkmoneyfiles...

SARs! Search and rescue services? Subject access requests? Sudden acute respiratory syndrome? No - suspicious activity reports! That's what we are talking about this time. And there's a lot more to them than you might think. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-dark-money-files-ltd/ on Twitter at  https://twitter.com/dark_files o...

In this episode we look at the FCA's latest thematic review of the National Fraud Database and money mule account detection tools and summarise what we think firms can take from it and what actions they might consider taking in response. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-dark-money-files-ltd/ on Twitter at  https://twitter.com/dark...

"...Because every day we pay the price, we’re the living sacrifice" Taking inspiration from Bob Marley (sorry about the pun) we've done a little episode about scams and scammers (and some hints on how to spot them). Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-dark-money-files-ltd/ on Twitter at  https://twitter.com/dark_files or se...

In this episode we look at some of the links between three recent enforcement actions. We try to avoid the knee jerk reactions, and think a bit deeper about them. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-dark-money-files-ltd/ on Twitter at  https://twitter.com/dark_files or see our website at  https://www.thedarkmoneyfiles.com/

We turn our attention to the requirement to train relevant staff on all matters anti-financial crime. And if you're planning on training - your training needs a plan! Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-dark-money-files-ltd/ on Twitter at  https://twitter.com/dark_files or see our website at  https://www.thedarkmoneyfiles.com/

In this episode we turn our attention to the tricky subject of outsourcing. We were going to get someone else to do it for us but we couldn't find a suitable candidate. :) Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-dark-money-files-ltd/ on Twitter at  https://twitter.com/dark_files or see our website at  https://www.thedarkmoneyfiles.com/

Hot spots and intelligence 2 In this second episode we look more broadly at the genesis of intelligence led policing, how it works and how compelling it is to draw parallels with our world of anti-financial crime. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-dark-money-files-ltd/ on Twitter at  https://twitter.com/dark_files or see our website at ...