The UKFIU Podcast

In this episode, panellists from the NCA, Serious Fraud Office (SFO), and City of London Police (CoLP) discuss the fraud and corruption landscape in the UK and overseas, typical indicators of bribery and corruption and outline how their organisations are working to tackle these threats. This episode also features an opening introduction from Baroness Hodge, the government’s Anti-Corruption Champio...

In this episode, panellists from the UKFIU, HMRC and a real estate agency address money laundering and suspicious activity in the real estate and letting agency sector. The podcast includes discussions of potential red flags for reporters in the sector and positive law enforcement outcome that have resulted from Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) HMRC have published guidance that may be of use to...

In this episode, panellists from the National Economic Crime Centre (NECC) and legal sector discuss the issue of Payment Diversion Fraud (PDF) in the legal sector, with a specific focus on legal professionals involved in conveyancing. This includes how PDF can impact the legal profession, and the collaboration and work of this sector and law enforcement in minimising and combatting this crime.   N...

WARNING: This post contains references to child sexual abuse In this episode, panellists from the National Crime Agency (NCA) and NatWest Group discuss Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) livestreaming. This includes the actions being taken by law enforcement and reporters to combat this crime, potential indicators, and how to report if you have suspicions of CSA or money laundering linked to CSA. For the su...

In this episode, panellists from the UK Financial Intelligence Unit (UKFIU) and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) discuss the UK’s assumption of the CARIN presidency, the role of CARIN and the processes of UKFIU and CARIN in working with law enforcement in UK and CARIN member states. CARIN - Camden Asset Recovery Inter-agency Network ARIN – Asset Recovery Inter-agency Network FATF – Financial Action...

Episode 24 Organised Immigration Crime: Illicit Finance In this episode, panellists from the National Crime Agency (NCA) address the illicit finance angle of Organised Immigration Crime (OIC). Panellists explain the current threat picture, how Informal Value Transfer Systems (IVTS) play a role in enabling this crime and the actions being taken by the NCA to disrupt organised crime groups involved...

In this episode, this issue of virtual squatting is discussed by panellists from the National Economic Crime Centre (NECC), Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and Companies House. Panellists address what is virtual squatting and the role it plays in economic crime, potential signs that professionals should be aware of, and the positive outcomes that resulted from publi...

In this episode, panellists from the Egmont Group and the UK Financial Intelligence Unit’s (UKFIU’s) International team discuss the role of international collaboration in combatting money laundering and terrorist financing. Egmont plays a key role in facilitating UKFIU cooperation with other Financial Intelligence Units and in turn, the UKFIU aims to contribute to the success of the group. Topics...

In this episode, our panellists discuss the issue of professional enablers. Jacquie Griffiths (OPBAS), Edgars Pastars (Finance Latvia Association), and Tommas Kaplan (von Poll Immobilien) provide an overview of the challenges sectors encounter and their views on what professionals should consider when de-risking. This includes examples from their own work when encountering those attempting to laun...

In this episode, panellists discuss the recent work that has been done on illicit company formation activity and transformations to Companies House following legislative changes. These representatives from the National Economic Crime Centre (NECC), Companies House, and private sector members of the NECC’s public private partnerships share their perspectives on this work, including its relation to...

In this episode our panel of legal experts discuss key considerations and challenges facing legal professionals when it comes to anti-money laundering (AML) and suspicious activity reporting. The legal sector covers everything from large global firms down to sole practitioners and our panellists discuss key money laundering threats, risk areas and the indicators which firms and sole practitioners...

In part two of our Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) episode, our panellists discuss the impact on economies, biodiversity and legitimate wildlife trade. They also talk about predicate crimes associated with IWT and the importance of international co-operation, such as that garnered during Project Anton, in tackling it. Information regarding the Statement of Principles, announced by the Prince of Wales...

In part one of our episode on the Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT), we are joined by panellists from Canada’s Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre (FINTRAC) and the UK’s National Wildlife Crime unit (NWCU). Our panellists discuss the roles of their organisations and outline the differing threats between their respective countries, but highlight the similar typologies used by serious orga...

In this episode, panellists from accountancy sector supervisory bodies discuss Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliance within the sector. This includes specific cases where a firm may have AML concerns during Know Your Customer (KYC) and Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) practices. The panellists use their extensive knowledge to provide their perspectives on the sector as a whole and specifics relat...

In this episode, panellists from the National Crime Agency (NCA) and National Economic Crime Centre (NECC) discuss the issue of money mules, including key indicators of money muling, types of money mules and strategies used to recruit potential money mules. For the subtitled version of this episode go to: https://youtu.be/bTSKvCIYq90 Acronyms used in this podcast: SARs: Suspicious Activity Reports...

In this episode, panellists from the National Crime Agency (NCA) and UAE Financial Intelligence Unit (UAEFIU) discuss the nature of MSBs and exchange houses in the UK and UAE, the risks of money laundering associated with both sectors, patterns of criminality, how this type of financial service has changed and why there is still a need for them in an increasingly cashless world. For the subtitled...

We continue our series of podcasts focused on fraud. In this podcast we will be looking at fraud intensification. In 2022 the National Economic Crime Centre (NECC)  with assistance from the City of London Police, implemented a period of intensification of activity across law enforcement.  There were a number of objectives of this intensification: to increase public confidence that law enforcement...

Fraud Communications Fraud accounts for over 40% of all crime and recent statistics have shown that 1 in 15 people are a victim of fraud. To facilitate a coordinated response to tackling this, a framework has been developed by key partners, based on insight from across various sectors, to create a streamlined, comprehensive approach.  It is hoped that by having a consistent and comprehensive respo...

As the number of choices available to banking customers in the UK has grown to include non-traditional platforms, the pool of institutions that regularly report SARs has expanded and diversified. Terms such as ‘challenger bank’, ‘digital bank’, ‘FinTech’, ‘e-wallet’, ‘e-money’ and ‘cryptocurrency exchange’ are now commonplace within the SARs regime and the terminology used to discuss these reporte...

In this edition we speak with the National Wildlife Crime Unit, examining the illegal wildlife trade (IWT) and how red flags can be potentially identified through Suspicious Activity Reports. IWT is a significant business, long reported as being the fourth largest crime in the world, and believed to generate approximately GBP 15 billion a year.

Episode 9 looks at how the UKFIU works with overseas partners, ensuring that intelligence on money laundering and financial crime is effectively shared with international partners and includes John O’Sullivan (UKFIU International manager) and USA ILO Mike Manley as panellists. Topics discussed are: ·  Demystifying some of the UKFIU international terms used in the SARs Annual Reports ·  I...

In this edition we examine virtual assets – what they are, how they work, complexities faced by law enforcement and the role SARs and reporters can play. We hear from the NECC, the National Police Chiefs’ Council cybercrime programme and the reporting sector, and examine the impact of the fifth money laundering directive regulations on SARs regime stakeholders. Note: value based analysis of crypto...

Did you know that SARs are a valuable source of financial information for safeguarding potentially vulnerable members of society? Or that the UKFIU identifies and fast-tracks such SARs to police forces who will, in many cases, arrange visits by local officers to offer advice to prevent fraud or further losses? In this podcast we speak to reporters and law enforcement to learn the value of such fas...

In this podcast we chat with Graeme Biggar, Director General of the National Economic Crime Centre (NECC). Graeme discusses: the work and remit of the NECC, particularly with regards to the UKFIU’s position in it; the headline figures from the 2020 SARs Annual Report; plans for the future of the UKFIU and the SARs regime; and how SARs can make a big difference in cutting serious organised crime. F...

County Lines describes gangs and organised criminal networks involved in moving illegal drugs across the UK, using dedicated mobile phone lines, and frequently exploiting children and vulnerable adults to move drugs and money. In this podcast, we look at how Suspicious Activity Reports are being used to tackle this criminality, the UKFIU's work to identify this threat and the work being undertaken...