The Dark Money Files

In this episode, we dive into the world of alternative money laundering methodologies, starting with lending and insurance.  And we find out that, with a bit of imagination, any store of value can be used to launder money - sometimes in surprising ways! 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://twitt...

Following the news that the FBI and Australian Federal Police had managed to seed a bogus “encryption device” into a huge global network of organised criminal gangs, followed by an equally global set of raids, arrests and asset seizures, we review what we know, alongside the recent Encrochat hack and surmise what this might mean in the fight against global organised crime. Send us Fan Mail Support...

In this episode we talk all things FIU along with the history and role of the Egmont Group. We discover the different flavours of FIU and how they work with the other elements of government and the law. 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://ww...

In this episode we look at the role of critical thinking in the world of Financial Crime Compliance. What it is, how it works and some examples of critical thinking in practice.  And we conclude that it is one of the most important skills necessary for effective risk management. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-dark-money-files-ltd/ on...

With the breaking news that ABN AMRO have been fined just under €500m and three former executives are currently subject to a criminal investigation, we draw out the main themes emerging from the report. 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://ww...

In this episode we talk about the recent criminal charges brought against NatWest Bank and liken the underlying issues to boiling a frog. Of course.  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 week’s episode we deconstruct a  recent paper from the. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime which defined what is meant by an illicit financial flow and which proposed a statistical framework for reporting on 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 o...

In this episode, we look at the newly enacted Corporate Transparency Act, specifically in relation to the new beneficial ownership requirements in the US, how they will work, who is affected and areas for improvement. 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...

The massive explosion in Beirut. Sanctioned individuals. Dangerous chemicals. UK shell companies. ISIS. Russia. Syria. What connects them all?  We do. There is an accompanying article on The Dark Money Files LinkedIn page. 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 we...

In the fourth and final part of our review of the year we talk about Woolly Rhinos, Chang'e 5 and Panto Dames. Recombinant vector vaccines, Edward Snowden and Dread Pirate Roberts. Plus we chuck in a quick review of the Egyptian dynastic period and life (or not) on Venus. What's not to like! Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-d...

In a highly alliterative third part of our review of the year we talk about Jumbo Jets, Mexican Mammoths, PP Tapes, Kim and Kanye, the Beirut Blast, Dangerous Drugs and Strange Stars. Join us for a meander through some of the well known (and less well known) stories from the summer of 2020. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-dark-money-f...

Following rapidly on the heels of Part One, we bring you part two of our review of the year. This time we chat about news stories from April to June including Kim Jon Un, David icke, Elon Musk and Dad's Army . But not necessarily in that order. Or in any order, really. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-dark-money-files-ltd/ on Twit...

In a complete departure from our normal podcast we bring you part one of an unscripted conversation between Ray and Graham, looking back at some of the major news stories of the year (noting to do with financial crime). In this first part we cover January to March. Please be aware, we are unashamedly open about our own beliefs which not everyone will agree with and that's OK. What we didn&apo...

Following hard on the heels of the FinCEN files, the UK has just published its review of the SARs filed in 2019 which gives us the opportunity to look in detail at the headline figures and chat about SARs (both Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) in a bit more depth. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-dark-money-files-ltd/ on Twitt...

At long last (some may say) we look at various types of sanctions, the people or entities to whom they may be applicable, and the main issuers of sanctions lists, explaining (at a high level) how they work and what financial institutions need to do. 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.c...

In this episode we look at Unexplained Wealth Orders (UWOs) - explaining the law, how they are obtained, who they are obtained against and some of the initial uses to which they have been put. 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.thedarkm...

In this episode we look at (and broadly welcome) the proposed reforms to Companies House - an issue which matters globally given the ubiquity of UK entities in global money laundering schemes. Our reservations - budget and timetable (plus a few more technical quibbles) Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-dark-money-files-ltd/ on Twitter a...

Following our hugely successful Dark Money Conference in association with fscom, Ray and Graham take a bit of time out to look back at the highlights and draw out some of the compelling themes that emerged. They also announce how those who were unable to attend can get access to all of the content and the associated masterclasses as well! For tickets, please visit our website at  https://www.theda...

Following the release of the #FinCENFiles and the involvement of The Dark Money Files in the story, we have recorded our longest and most in depth episode ever, looking at what it all means. 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.thedarkmon...

In advance of our online conference at the end of September, we review, the speakers, the panels. the subjects and the additional content that subscribers will receive for their very modest outlay. 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.the...

In this episode we review the recent guidance issued by the UKs tax regulator (HMRC) for the benefit of Trust and Corporate Services providers. Amongst other things, it provides a very clear and articulate statement of some of the red flags to watch out for (along with a lot of abbreviations). Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-dark-mone...

We're back for Season 5!  We begin with a look at the new Wolfsberg guidance around Source of Wealth (SoW) and Source of Funds (SoF). Whilst we're broadly very supportive, there are a couple of elements about which we're not quite so enthusiastic. 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  http...

The third part of our look at the Consent Order issued by the DFS NY against Deutsche Bank throws up some worrying inconsistencies between the CO and the Bruun & Hjejle Danske bank report. Was it because Danske Head office didn't know, they did but didn't disclose to B&H or they did disclose and it was withheld from the final report? Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on...

In part two of our special report into the Consent Order issued by the DFS NY against Deutsche Bank we look at its troubled relationship with FBME, the Cyprus based subsidiary of the Federal Bank of Lebanon and conclude that being a correspondent brings with it ethical issues that are not always there with direct client relationships. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on LinkedIn at http...

In the first of a trilogy of special episodes relating to the recent Consent Order agreed between Deutsche Bank and the Department of Financial Services - New York, we look in detail at the nature of the relationship, and the mistakes that were made, when Deutsche Bank decided to do business with Jeffrey Epstein. Some of which (surprisingly) has either not been reported or only reported in passing...