China to issue guidance for light online payment solutions to preserve emerging FinTech

Tweet The Government of China has announced that it is issuing legal guidance to lightly regulate online payment systems, what it terms as “internet finance.” The guidance will be prepared by the People’s Bank of Canada and will contemplate a regulatory framework for governance. The impetus for developing guidance is driven by the explosive growth […]

Mother of the Girlfriend of Mayor of Vancouver held on corruption charges in China

Tweet In the latest twist in the continuous coverage of high-ranking Chinese foreign nationals who immigrated to Vancouver, the mother of the girlfriend of the Mayor of Vancouver has been incarcerated over corruption charges in China. Here is the story as reported in South China Morning Post. The Mayor, Gregor Robertson, has a girlfriend who […]

China and US agree to cooperate to help China track down & repatriate “economic fugitives”

Tweet Late last week, at a meeting in Beijing, the US and China agreed to continue cooperating in the removal of Chinese foreign nationals from the US who are suspected of having immigrated with proceeds of corruption. The meeting took place between Meng Jianzhu, Secretary of the Central Politics and Law Commission, and national police chief Guo […]

Two banks allegedly banked Chinese politically exposed persons with alleged proceeds of crime

Tweet PEPs from China According to this article in the Vancouver Sun, two Canadian banks opened and maintained a bank account for politically exposed persons from China who are now alleged to have laundered $900,000 in proceeds of crime from China to Canada and the US. The two politically exposed persons are Shilan Zhao (趙世蘭) and […]

France to limit cash and ‘anonymous’ transactions; introduces new law; et mobilise contre le terrorisme avec l’investissement de €736 million

Tweet €736 Million Investment in Counter-Terrorism Infrastructure Le gouvernement français a décrété une “mobilisation générale” contre le terrorisme, annonçant la création de 2,680 emplois et le déblocage de €736 millions sur trois ans. Le Premier ministre a présenté des mesures visant à mieux lutter contre les filières suspectes, notamment via internet et dans les prisons, […]

American Banker – Why banks should be concerned about hackers taking on counter terrorist financing

Tweet In case you missed it, our article in American Banker‘s Bank Think entitled “We Shouldn’t Be Relying on Hackers to Stop Terrorism Financing” can be read here. The article discusses the recent phenomena of hackers in #OpISIS taking down the websites of the Islamic State and their stated promise to go after banks engaged […]

Europol says organized crime is quickly changing to virtual methods

Tweet In a report released yesterday on serious organized crime called “Exploring Tomorrow’s Organized Crime” (the “Report“), Europol found that organized crime is now becoming a virtual activity over the Internet and as a result, transnational criminal organizations (“TCO“) are migrating towards virtual payment methods to conduct commercial affairs, including digital payments. According to Europol, […]

Counter-Terrorist Financing Presentation in Toronto

Tweet With the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists, we’re organizing a special presentation on “Terrorist Financing Concerns & Risks in Ontario for the Financial Services Sector” on February 24, 2015, in Toronto. The presentation will be given by the OPP’s Deputy Commissioner, Scott Tod, and Deputy Director of FINTRAC, Barry MacKillop, and is sponsored […]

Six Indicted in US for Funding ISIS Using Money Services Businesses that Routed Funds to Conduit Countries

Tweet Terrorist Financing for ISIS using online Payment Processors and MSBs from US Routed to Turkey and Saudi Arabia The USDOJ indicted six people this week for terrorist financing who are alleged to have used money services businesses to finance the Islamic State (“ISIS“) and to supply war-related goods to members of ISIS. According to […]

Why counter-terrorist financing matters in Canada

Tweet In Canada, suppressing terrorism is an “uphill battle” (see: Commission of Inquiry Into the Investigation of the Bombing of Air India Flight 182), and a battle which Canada stands poised to lose ground over unless more is done to detect, deter and prosecute terrorist financing. We have had numerous terrorist attacks planned and foiled, and to […]