The Fraud Examiner
The FinCEN Files: Another Major Leak Implicates Major Banks in Money Laundering Scandal
Mason Wilder, CFE
Research Specialist, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
The latest exposé from the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), the organization behind the Panama Papers, Paradise Papers and Luanda Leaks reports, highlights the involvement of several major international financial institutions
in the movement of funds tied to corruption, fraud, organized crime and terrorism.
Like the previous ICIJ reports, which have been covered by
the ACFE, this report not only illustrates the failure of anti-fraud controls to prevent the flow of illicit funds worldwide, but also prompts discussions about reactive responses to the revelations that could impact anti-fraud professionals.
The documents
At the heart of the report are 2,100 suspicious activity reports (SARs) filed by financial institutions with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the U.S. Department of Treasury that collects and analyzes information about financial
transactions to combat financial crime in accordance with the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA).
Sign In
Not a member? Click here to Join Now and access the full page.