The Dark Money Files

In our final part of our look at fraud, we explain, in general terms, current approaches to how best to compensate the victims and deny the fraudsters (as well as explaining briefly, why the gap since the last episode). 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 websi...

We interrupt our suite of podcasts on fraud to bring you a special episode relating to the human cost of fake company incorporations. Working with various different media outlets, we’ve helped bring to light some of the stories relating to people who unwittingly fall foul of fake company incorporators. Listen, for example, to this recent episode of BBCs You and Yours: https://www.bbc.co.uk/program...

In this second part of our series on fraud we delve into some of the different types of fraud. We proffer some “mildly salacious” examples, along with others which are rather more serious. 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.thedarkmoney...

In this pun laden episode, we start to delve into the world of fraud. More to follow… 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/

The UK regulator, in common with most regulators around the world, is keen to understand the role that synthetic data might play, alongside Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. It has made a call for input which closes on 22 June.  In this episode we review the current state of play, the uses for synthetic data and why contributing to this call is so important. Link to the call: https://w...

In this episode we tackle the thorny issue of tax avoidance, aggressive tax avoidance and tax evasion. We also take a closer look at one of the schemes which falls somewhere on that spectrum: mini-umbrella companies. 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...

In this episode we look at all things digital and how it is changing the landscape of authentication whilst making KYC more dynamic. 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/

To conclude this trilogy of podcasts looking at the world from the money launderers point of view, Ray and Graham take a deep dive into trade-based money laundering and trade finance. They revisit the research conducted by John Zdanowicz – copy of the report referred to can be found here . $5000 tweezers and enriched uranium at $15/kg make for a lively episode!  Send us Fan Mail Support the show F...

In this second part of Graham & Ray’s trip to the dark side, and with almost prescient timing, they explain how to set up a global money laundering machine. Please don’t try this at home. 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.thedarkmo...

Having spent three years and 93 episodes reporting from the side of the great and the good, Ray and Graham move the focus to the view from the dark side. And it sounds like they had an inordinate amount of fun doing so! Two more parts to follow! 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/d...

We bring this trilogy of episodes around transaction monitoring failures to an end with a final review of the NatWest case and a comparison with the recent fine levied against HSBC. What’s that got to do with a King, his cleaner and a thirsty aspidistra? You’ll need to listen to find out! Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-dark-money-fil...

In this episode we bring you the second part of our deep dive into the criminal prosecution of NatWest through the lens of the Statement of Facts which accompanied the guilty verdict. This time, amongst other things, we cover smelly banknotes and bin bags full of cash. 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...

In this episode we bring you part one of a deep dive into the criminal prosecution of NatWest  through the lens of the Statement of Facts which accompanied the guilty verdict. No matter where you are in the world, given the ubiquity of AML regulations, this will be relevant to you and your organisation. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the...

In this episode we want to move away from always being suspicious and look at the other side of the coin. Can we use green flags to help identify suspicious behaviour from a very different angle? And do we need to be cautious in our use of whitelists? 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...

In this episode we enthusiastically review the new advanced search function recently launched on the Companies House website. We also make a heartfelt plea for other corporate registers to look and learn from the huge potential gains in proactively managing corporate financial crime risk that it facilitates. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/compan...

In this episode we look at how the FCA’s REP-CRIM report can assist firms in assessing the effectiveness of their AML controls through both trend analysis and benchmarking against their peers.  And we explain how  trend analysis such as this can benefit all financial institutions wherever they do business.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company...

In this episode we review the need for firms to review, and adjust as necessary, their financial crime control environment. We also talk about some of the triggers which might cause these adjustments and the actions which might follow.  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...

In this episode we give our views on the Pandora Papers and some of the broader considerations which might flow from their release. 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/

Remediation programmes are becoming an all too frequent feature of life for financial crime compliance departments, so we we’ve put together a summary of good practice, do’s and don’ts and other things to consider when embarking on such a course of action. 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://tw...

Sometimes you just have to go back to basics. And this week it's risk.  Does low risk equal no risk? Is all risk equal? Should you ever do EDD on a low risk customer? We answer these questions and many more. 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 ...

In this episode we wander away from traditional banking intro the world of informal value transfer systems. Oh, and we look at the price of missile launchers. But you’ll need to listen to understand why! Link to the TBML paper written by John Zdanowicz https://www.researchgate.net/profile/John-Zdanowicz/publication/46556338_Trade-Based_Money_Laundering_and_Terrorist_Financing/links/02e7e534489c545...

Occasionally, we record an episode which is truly an exclusive, and this is one of them. This episode started life as a straightforward explanation of the use of art and auctions in money laundering schemes. And then it went off on the most unexpected and jaw dropping tangent. You’ll need to listen to understand how art, auctions, sanctions and shell companies relate to the explosion in Beirut and...

This is just a very quick episode to let everyone know about the upcoming Dark Money Conference. It's online so it doesn't matter where in the world you are and it' going to be great! link to the website: https://darkmoneyconf.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/...

We interrupt our series on Alternative Laundries to review the recent FCA Dear CEO AML letter which, whilst aimed squarely at UK financial institutions, will have relevance across the world, especially where those global banks have UK retail operations. 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...

In the second part of our Alternative Laundries series, and against all the odds, we turn our attention to casinos and gambling. It's a big deal! 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/