Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)

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On October 1, 2020, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) each released advisories (the OFAC Advisory and the FinCEN Advisory) addressing financial crime-related risks associated with ransomware and ransomware payments. The OFAC Advisory focuses on the risk that ransomware attacks or payments may involve sanctioned persons…

On September 16, 2020, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) issued an advanced notice of rulemaking (“ANPRM”) requesting comments on proposed regulatory changes under the Bank Secrecy Act (“BSA”) that aim to enhance the effectiveness of anti-money laundering (“AML”) programs.  The proposals reflect the recommendations of a working group within the Bank Secrecy Act Advisory…

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has issued two advisories to alert financial institutions to scams related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and has stated that it intends to continue to issue similar alerts.  The advisories, based on FinCEN’s analysis of COVID-19-related information obtained through Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) data, public reports, and law enforcement partners…

On July 16, 2020, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued an alert to financial institutions emphasizing a recent scam exploiting Twitter accounts to fraudulently solicit virtual currency payments.  The cyber threat actors involved in the scam compromised accounts of various public figures, organizations, and financial institutions in an attempt to solicit virtual currency payments…

On June 29, 2020, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued helpful guidance on due diligence requirements for hemp-related businesses under the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA). The four-page guidance builds upon a December 3, 2019 joint statement on this topic issued by FinCEN, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit…

On May 26, 2020, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) published a notice to renew the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control numbers assigned to Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) requirements. Although no changes to the requirements themselves are proposed, FinCEN notice in the Federal Register proposes to revise its estimate of the burden to…

On May 8, 2020, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) renewed its Geographic Targeting Orders (GTOs) that require U.S. title insurance companies to obtain and verify identifying information for the natural persons behind shell companies used to make all-cash purchases of residential real estate with values equal to or greater than $300,000.  The GTOs only…

In April 3, 2020 guidance, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) provided limited relief from beneficial ownership verification requirements for federally-insured depository institutions and federally insured credit unions that offer Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans to existing customers under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). It also has suspended implementation…

Former U.S. Treasury and Justice Department Lawyer Strengthens Anti-Money Laundering, Economic Sanctions, and CFIUS Practices

Washington, D.C. — February 20, 2020: Crowell & Moring is bolstering its anti-money laundering, economic sanctions, and CFIUS practices with the addition of Caroline Brown, former attorney in the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of…

On Friday, October 25, 2019 the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued a final rule pursuant to Section 311 of the USA PATRIOT Act finding Iran to be a jurisdiction of primary money laundering concern and imposing special measures prohibiting U.S. financial institutions from maintaining correspondent accounts for or on behalf of Iran. Separately on…