Moody’s Talks: Risk Reframed

Could your company be the next target for corporate espionage, where trade secrets and competitive advantages hang in the balance? As corporate spies evolve their methods to outpace defenses, the risks have never been greater.    In this gripping first episode of our All Source series, we’re joined by Michael Orlando , Senior Director of Global Security at Micron Technology, and Jason Lee , Indust...

Would you rather spend money recovering from a fraud-related attack or building an anti-fraud strategy? Organizations who become victims of fraud often find themselves paying enormous sums of money, managing severe reputational damage, and navigating uncertainties on how to better prepare for the future. In this episode of KYC Decoded we welcome Chen Zamir , fraud strategy advisor and founder of t...

Australia recently passed an amended anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) bill that will soon include Tranche 2 entities in its regulatory regime.  The result? Approximately 100,000 new entities under its scope.  Regulating non-financial entities is not a new undertaking, as we’ve seen in countries like the UK, Singapore, and United Arab Emirates. Crucial to the success...

We find ourselves 3 years out from the Russia/Ukraine war, and the sanctions climate continues to evolve. From changing global politicians to sanctions regulations and enforcements to evasion tactics, it is imperative compliance professionals stay alive to risks, and the consequences of not doing so.   In this episode of KYC Decoded , we are pleased to welcome Moody’s Industry Practice Lead, Hera...

An exponential growth in data has coincided with the era of exponential risk - what does this mean for anti-financial crime and risk professionals? With ever increasing amounts of unstructured data and information at their fingertips, how can professional investigators implement sophisticated open-source intelligence (OSINT) investigations to make informed decisions? In this episode of KYC Decoded...

Imagine a world where the bulk of your workday is dedicated to gaining a deep understanding of financial criminal behavior and forecasting future transgressions - rather than being spent on monotonous research hunting for risk signals down rabbit holes. Could generative AI help make this vision a reality? In this episode of KYC Decoded, Moody’s own Chief Product Officer, Nick Reed , sits down with...

Human trafficking is one of the most terrible crimes imaginable. And, yet, the magnitude of it is so overwhelming that it can feel nearly impossible to tackle. But, what if there was a way to flip this problem on its head? Could we learn from technologists who use feedback loops to build information systems and apply this same way of thinking to a new challenge?  In this KYC Decoded episode, we ar...

The cat and mouse game of criminals vs. regulators and compliance teams can feel intense, and the stakes are high. With advanced AI and deep learning technologies like deepfake, fraudulent activity is easier, cheaper, and more sophisticated than ever before. However, the same advancement in tools and technologies is exactly what’s needed to fight back, and even get ahead. In this episode of KYC De...

This episode includes accounts of physical, mental, and sexual abuse, stemming from modern slavery and human trafficking. These topics may be distressing for some individuals. Listener discretion is advised. In the making of "The Infinite Game," Moody's docuseries, a wealth of expert interviews were conducted, however due to the time constraints and narrative of the piece some interviews were regr...

You may be familiar with yacht owners being sanctioned, but what of the potential risks tied to the yachts themselves? Burmese teak wood, commonly found in marine vessels, is known for its exceptional quality, natural water resistance, and premium price tag. Unfortunately, that price tag is not nearly as steep as the potential consequences of supporting the illegal timber trade. In this episode of...

Let's get into the evolving world of fraud on KYC Decoded , where the complexity and sophistication of fraud now poses new and daunting challenges for professionals and organizations alike. This episode draws on invaluable insights from the Cifas Fraudscape report , brought to life by guest, Stephen Dalton , Director of Intelligence at Cifas . Together with our host, Alex Pillow , they analyze the...

The positioning of “traditional” KYC against new and emerging methodologies creates opportunities to assess the most effective processes and technologies used to prevent financial crime. It raises the question: What transformative actions and AI implementations are needed to revolutionize a KYC framework, ensuring the industry is prepared for future advancement?  In this episode of KYC Decoded, Ha...

Disclaimer: Please note in the introduction to this episode it is mentioned that Russia further invaded Ukraine in 2020 rather than the correct year of 2022. In this episode of KYC Decoded , we dive into Article 5r which mandates European banks report any money transfers exceeding 100,000 euros leaving the EU, targeting entities with more than 40% Russian ownership.  Join Moody’s Industry Practice...

From social media account information to password creation to IP addresses, the digital footprint we create grows larger every time we go online – and it is virtually impossible to avoid.  At the same time, sophisticated criminals can capture this wealth of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and create synthetic identities to commit crimes like fraud, money laundering, illegal weapons deali...

In this episode, KYC Decoded welcomes Derek Vadala , Chief Risk Officer at BitSight , who shares his insights on the intricacies of cyber risk, technology risk, and digital risk with host Alex Pillow . They explore the evolving nature of cyber threats, from financially motivated attacks to nation-state espionage, and discuss best practices for mitigating these risks through in depth defense strate...

This episode introduces the Data and Technology for Compliance (DT4C) Alliance, an industry group comprising leading data and technology companies focused on enhancing financial crime prevention in the EU. Host Alex Pillow , along with Ted Datta from Moody's, and Gem Conn from Dow Jones Risk and Compliance, discuss the Alliance's goals, key initiatives, and the impact they have had so far, includi...

As digital assets continue to evolve and enrich investment portfolios, they simultaneously demand innovative anti-money laundering (AML) and compliance strategies to counteract potential exploitation by bad actors. There is a critical need for financial service firms to adapt to these changes, understanding the money laundering risks tied to crypto.   In this episode of KYC Decoded , we are joined...

Some of the most crucial actors in the world of regulatory compliance exist within the public sector. But, with so many private sector players gathering data and making risk-based decisions, how can the two groups bridge any divides to overcome increasingly sophisticated criminals? In this episode of KYC Decoded, host Alex Pillow is joined by public sector colleagues Linda Hamilton , Deputy Direct...

As regulatory stakes grow higher, so does the need for reliable, comprehensive data when evaluating risk. Enter: the Moody’s Entity Verification API. In a single source, this powerful tool layers curated data on over 525 million global companies along with real-time entity information from primary sources. Here to share more on the making of this tool and its value in a compliance program are Joha...

The term “Entity Verification” can mean different things to different people. Perhaps it brings to mind beneficial ownership, identity checks, or third-party risk management. Regardless, Entity Verification is the bedrock for understanding who you are doing business with. We are pleased to welcome back guest, Paul Nola , Partner at Context Consulting, for this episode of Moody’s Talks: KYC Decoded...

You may recognize him as Moody’s Talks: KYC Decoded editor and producer, but, Mark Rundle , has a passion for storytelling that extends beyond podcasting. Mark is also a brilliant documentary filmmaker, and we are excited to have him join us behind the microphone in this week’s episode, discussing his recent three-part documentary series, The Infinite Game . These 10-minute episodes provide a sear...

The art and science of screening in the KYC and AML world has certainly come a long way from the days of manually checking for names and organizations against a short list. Risk factors have evolved exponentially, increasing regulations have influenced risk appetites, and powerful technologies like Machine Learning (ML) and Generative AI (GenAI) have caught on like wildfire.  In this episode of KY...

Anti-financial crime (AFC) departments can get labeled as the team that says “no” - seen as preventing innovation from reaching customers. But, this line of thinking overlooks the immense value AFC teams can bring in the product development process. How can AML and compliance professionals break through the stereotype to become more influential partners in business growth? In this episode of KYC D...

Fancy cars. Diamond-covered watches. Luxury vacations at 5-star resorts. These are some of the many high-ticket purchases money launderers might illegally make to disguise the origins of their wealth. So, what actions can be taken to fight this nefarious activity? How can businesses and consumers avoid complicity and prevent financial crime in the luxury goods' space? We are thrilled to welcome ba...

Open finance, API banking, Payment Services Directive (PSD2)...the concept of open banking can be called many things. But how exactly is this technology changing the world for risk and compliance professionals today and what potential does it have to mold the profession going forward? Join us for another episode of KYC Decoded as we welcome Alessio Balduini , CEO and founder of Credit Data Researc...