AML Conversations

Synthetic identity fraud is on the rise, and it's more complex and dangerous than ever. In this episode, host Elliot Berman is joined by Amy Petric, Ross Yellon, and Adam Gunselman to break down how synthetic IDs are created, where they're being used, and why they're so hard to detect. You'll hear real-world examples of fraud in credit cards, auto loans, and fintech platforms, along with insights into the tools and strategies financial institutions are using to fight back. From AI-generated IDs to dark web data and bust-out fraud, this conversation sheds light on the evolving tactics of fraudsters and the critical role of both technology and human oversight in stopping them.

In this episode of our special series on payment fraud, Elliot Berman is joined by Nikki Siko, Adrianna Wolfe, and Patrick Haney to explore the evolving landscape of financial fraud. From the surprising resurgence of check fraud to the rise of ACH scams, push payment fraud, and social engineering tactics, this conversation dives deep into the methods fraudsters use—and how financial institutions are fighting back. You'll hear real-world examples, insights into fraud detection through monitoring and investigations, and the growing importance of customer education and interdepartmental collaboration. Whether you're in compliance, fraud prevention, or just curious about how these schemes unfold, this episode offers a clear-eyed look at the challenges and strategies shaping the future of fraud prevention.

In this week's episode, Joe McNamara and John Byrne examine significant shifts in the regulatory landscape, starting with a tribute to compliance leader Anna Rentschler. They dive into concerning changes to FCPA enforcement guidance that critics say abandons universal ethical standards, the OCC's unusual LinkedIn post signaling increased risk tolerance for banks, and growing threats to the Corporate Transparency Act. The discussion moves internationally to cover the UK's crypto asset sanctions compliance findings, the EU's latest money laundering risk assessment highlighting fintech vulnerabilities, and an FBI advisory on the Scattered Spider cybercriminal group.

David Tyree, Senior Advisor for Financial Crime Detection and AML for Valid 8, shares his views on the most essential ways to utilize bank data gleaned from his decades at DEA to his current work.

This week, John Byrne and Joe McNamara discuss Treasury's decision to postpone the investment advisor AML rule from 2026 to 2028 and reopen the comment process, drawing criticism from anti-corruption groups who warn it sends the wrong signal during the US's ongoing FATF evaluation. The hosts review Chainalysis's midyear crypto crime report showing $2.17 billion already stolen in 2025, with North Korea's $1.5 billion Bybit hack representing the largest single cryptocurrency theft in history. They also examine the newly signed GENIUS Act on stablecoins and its upcoming regulatory requirements. International developments include Russian universities offering Kremlin-backed master's programs in sanctions evasion and the EU's toughest sanctions package in years, which lowers the Russian oil price cap to $48 per barrel. The episode concludes with updates from the Wolfsburg Group on risk-based approaches and previews upcoming webinars on AI in compliance and fraud prevention.

In this episode, Elliot Berman and John Byrne discuss the U.S. legislative gridlock around crypto regulation during “Crypto Week” and the Senate's bipartisan recognition of the need for a crypto market structure. The conversation also highlights the Basel Institute's 2024 report, a GAO study on organized fraud in federal programs, and troubling staffing cuts at the State Department's anti-trafficking and counterterrorism offices. They also examine enforcement actions against Wise and other issues affecting the financial crime prevention community.

In this episode, Elliot Berman and John Byrne dive into the latest developments in global financial crime compliance. They unpack the FATF's new report on terrorist financing, explore upcoming U.S. legislation on cryptocurrency and stablecoins, and discuss AUSTRAC's expanded AML/CTF regulations in Australia. The conversation also covers the FCA's updated guidance on politically exposed persons (PEPs) and enforcement actions against digital banks like Monzo, and other issues affecting the financial crime prevention community.

In this episode, Elliot Berman and Jeff Fischer delve into how financial institutions can modernize their risk assessment practices by integrating fraud and AML considerations, responding to regulatory change, and leveraging data more effectively. They discuss the importance of aligning assessments with organizational risk appetite, embracing technology and automation, and adopting a dynamic, proactive approach to risk monitoring. From targeted product assessments to continuous dashboards, this conversation outlines how to streamline complexity while maintaining robust risk intelligence.

In this episode of This Week in AML, Elliot Berman is joined by Joe McNamara to unpack efforts across North America to combat fentanyl trafficking—including Treasury's designation of Mexican financial institutions and Canada's new FinTRAC intelligence unit, FATF's latest update on virtual assets and VASPs, he OCC's report on key risks in the federal banking system, FinCEN's change on TIN collection under the CIP rule, and other issues affecting the financial crime prevention community.

In this episode of This Week in AML, Elliot Berman is joined by Jennie Jonas to unpack FinCEN's 2024 Year in Review, BSA modernization efforts, and key takeaways from recent FATF reports. They also explore global fraud trends, regulatory shifts in the EU and UK, and the evolving role of digital currencies in financial crime prevention, and other issues affecting the financial crime prevention community.

This week, John and Elliot discuss key outcomes from the June FATF Plenary, OFAC enforcement actions, the DOJ's evolving stance on white collar crime, the ABA's lawsuit challenging executive orders targeting law firms, a request for comment from the US bank regulators on payment and check fraud, and other issues affecting the financial crime prevention community.

Senior Economist for the Economic Policy Institute, Adam Hersh, discusses the immediate and potential impact of the Trump tariffs, the ongoing challenges of trade fraud, and how the loss of government resources will impact all areas of society.

FCA Guidelines, EU Blacklist, Syrian Antiquities, and a FinCEN Advisory by AML RightSource

This week, John and Elliot discuss the updated Enforcement Guide from the Financial Conduct Authority, the changes to the EU money laundering blacklist, the latest on the trafficking of Syrian antiquities, FinCEN's Advisory on Iranian illicit oil smuggling, and other issues affecting the financial crime prevention community.

Elliot Berman and Jeff Fischer explore how financial institutions can transform risk assessments from a regulatory obligation into a powerful decision-making tool. They discuss tailoring assessments for different stakeholders, avoiding internal risk gaps, and ensuring a scalable, story-driven process that aligns with an organization's size, complexity, and risk appetite.

Popular AML Expert Sarah Beth Felix shares her candid observations on the 2025 challenges with BSA oversight, crypto guardrails, and what to expect from the private sector in the future.

This week, John and Elliot discuss the recent GAO report on AI in financial services, AUSTRAC's media release about crypto ATMs and their use in scams, fraud, and illicit finance, a new Canadian proposal to strengthen its boarders, including efforts to crack down on money launderers, a new North Dakota data security law impacting financial service providers, and other items impacting the financial crime prevention community.

Each industry segment has unique issues for its third-party risk management program. Learn what you need to know for the manufacturing sector.

This week, John and Elliot discuss the recent Wolfsberg 25th Anniversary Forum, the outcomes of the G7 meeting of Finance Ministers and central bank governors, the Manhattan D.A.'s office return of looted antiquities to Peru, a proposed bill in the US Senate concerning Russia sanctions, and other items impacting the financial crime prevention community.

This week, John and Elliot discuss new Russian sanctions from the Council of the European Union, new UK AML requirements for art dealers, a call to action from FATF, Interpol, and UNODC, AUSTRAC's second public consultation on new AML/CTF rules, an alert from NYDFS about scammers impersonating crypto service providers, and other items impacting the financial crime prevention community.

In this episode of AML Conversations, Joe McNamara, Director of Solutions Marketing at AML RightSource, sits down with Vesna McCreery, a seasoned financial crime compliance expert and Managing Director at AML RightSource, to dissect the alarming rise in global fraud. Together, they explore the historical divergence and recent convergence between fraud prevention and AML functions, the trillion-dollar scale of the fraud problem, and how digitalization, AI-driven deepfakes, and cross-border criminal networks are transforming the landscape. Vesna draws on international comparisons—highlighting Australia's standout success in reducing fraud through real-time public-private partnerships—and shares actionable insights on integrating biometric controls, enhancing data utilization, and reducing false positives in financial institutions. This conversation delivers critical takeaways for professionals navigating the evolving threats in financial crime.

Learn how the changing tariff environment can impact your third-party risk management program.

This week, John and Elliot discuss updates to the US Department of Justice corporate enforcement policy, the OCC's priority areas, Transparency International's report on corruption's role in fueling arms diversion, and other items impacting the financial crime prevention community.

In this episode of AML Conversations, Joe McNamara sits down with David Lutz, Senior Director of the Financial Crimes Advisory group at AML RightSource, to demystify the concept of blockchain hops and explore the evolving challenges in crypto compliance. The conversation highlights the nuances of tracing crypto transactions across multiple intermediaries and the balance between leveraging blockchain data and establishing defensible, risk-based compliance frameworks. They also discuss the implications of blockchain immutability, the regulator's perspective, and the necessary institutional readiness to engage in the digital assets space.

This week, John and Elliot discuss a large fentanyl bust at the southern border, a fraud case, and an AML case in Charlotte, remarks by the AMLA Chairman about the organization's top three priorities, activity at the House Financial Services Committee about cryptocurrency, a paper from the Basel Institute for Governance on the importance of asset recovery in the current environment, and other items impacting the financial crime prevention community.

The Jewelers Vigilance Committee General Counsel Sara Yood and Assistant Counsel Liz Fraccaro discuss advocacy, training, and raising awareness needs of the jewelry industry.

This week, John and Elliot discuss remarks for the former head of CISA and an open letter from JP Morgan Chase's CISO about cybersecurity, allegations from the European Public Prosecutor's Office about corruption in the European Court of Auditors, a GAO report about the need of Inspectors General for beneficial information to detect fraud in federal programs, reports of law enforcement opposition to the rollback of the CTA, and other items impacting the financial crime prevention community.

This week, John and Elliot discuss the UNODC's technical policy brief on the expanding activity of Asian crime syndicates, a policy brief on high-level corruption from Project FALCON, a blog post from the FACT Coalition how high gold prices are fueling guerilla warfare in Columbia, the NCA's effort in 2024 to interdict fraud and its focus on online fraud involving AI, and other items impacting the financial crime prevention community.

Nasdaq Verafin's EVP and Head of Financial Crime Technology, Stephanie Champion, discusses their 2024 Global Crime Report, highlighting the key concerns of AML professionals and how to approach the need for action.

This week, John and Elliot discuss the SEC's statement on offerings and registrations of securities in the crypto asset markets, the UK requirement for identity verification for corporate directors and controlling owners, FinCEN's renewal of geographic targeting orders relating to residential real estate, FCA's updated Financial Crime Guide, and other items impacting the financial crime prevention community.

This week, John and Elliot discuss FinCEN's Financial Trend Analysis, on fentanyl-related illicit finance, the OCC's disclosure of an email breach, the Department of Justice's announcement of a change in focus of its policy on prosecuting crypto crime, the fines against Revolut Bank, the increase in real estate by oligarchs in New York, and other items impacting the financial crime prevention community.

John Tobon sits down with us and discusses his over 30-year career battling financial crime at US Customs and HSI.

This week, John and Elliot discuss Transparency International's Opacity in Real Estate Ownership Index, FinCEN's alert on bulk cash smuggling by Mexican cartels, IRS-CI's release of 2024 BSA metrics, and its CI-FIRST initiative, Congressional hearings by a House Financial Services subcommittee, and other items impacting the financial crime prevention community.

Alison K. Jimenez, President of Dynamic Securities Analytics, Inc., and Steven Kemmerling, Founder & CEO of CRB Monitor, discuss the value of AML analytics in AML/CTF compliance.

This week, John and Elliot discuss the OCC's announcement that national banks will no longer be examined for reputational risk, an FTC report on the growth of payment fraud, a report from the University of Trier in Germany showing that money laundering directly causes an increase in housing prices, the decision to stop funding a national database tracking domestic terrorism, hate crimes and school shootings, and other items impacting the financial crime prevention community.

This week, John and Elliot discuss the 2024 Annual Report from ICIJ, OCCRP's reporting on the UK's enhanced enforcement activities, FATF's Second Public Consultation on Recommendation 16, the Basel Institute on Governance's Project Falcon, the New Zealand national risk assessment, and other items impacting the financial crime prevention community.

Hanjo Seibert, a Managing Director of BCG, outlines the importance of technology in compliance and compliance itself to address fraud in 2025.

In this edition of AML RightSource Voices, we're exploring the impact of cannabis legalization on financial institutions (FI). What has changed? What hasn't? And what can FIs do? Chuck Taylor, AML RightSource's Executive Vice President and Head of Financial Crimes Advisory and Elliot Berman, AML RightSource's AML/BSA Thought Leader will discuss the current state of law and regulation of FI activities with participants in the cannabis and hemp industries, possible changes in the landscape, and how some FIs are interacting with this customer segment today.

AI Podcast Project 2019 No Music by AML RightSource

Elliot Berman, AML RightSource Marketing Advisor, sits down with Senior Analyst Diane Dylinski to discuss her experience writing a blog article which was later published on the firm's website. Elliot and Diane guide the listeners through the guest authorship process from topic approval to content editing and final publication. Diane also shares her thoughts on earning AML University credits as well as the rewarding sense of accomplishment as an AMLRS published author.

We Are Our Heroes Intro by AML RightSource

In this episode of AML Conversations, John sits down to discuss the AML challenges and successes in the gaming industry with the former Senior Director of Gaming Policy at the American Gaming Association (AGA), Elizabeth Cronan. Now the Vice President Government Relations at Geoguard, Cronan elaborates on various themes in enforcement actions, the rise of mobile and on-line gaming, and the increase in sports betting.

In the second episode of our AML Conversations series with members of IRSCI, John Byrne sits down with Greg Monahan, IRS Supervisory Special Agent of the Cyber Crimes Unit and Chris Janczewski, IRS Special Agent in the Pittsburgh office.  Together, they discuss the impact of cybercrime both in the US and abroad. Additionally, John and Chris go through two major cases, one on a group selling child pornography for Bitcoin, and another investigation that resulted in prosecution of a Chinese money launderer. These agents also offer “red flag indicators” for financial institutions to spot cyber threats, discuss the importance of IRS partnering with other agencies, and working with the private sector.

In this episode of AML Conversations, John Byrne interviews David Stewart, Director, Financial Services Industry, Fraud & Security Intelligence Practice for SAS Institute Inc. David has spent many years in the AML/Financial Crime space and his insight is sought by many in our community. During their discussion, John and David discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on his global team, how he sees compliance after the “new normal” and the recent SAS paper, “What is next- generation AML?.” The paper delves into issues such as innovation, model governance and how to manage AML and fraud.

In this episode of AML Conversations, John sits down with Sara Crowe, Strategic Initiatives Director, Financial Systems for the Polaris Project. Sara leads Polaris's efforts to partner with the financial services industry to implement a comprehensive and industry-wide strategy to intervene in the crime of human trafficking. This initiative aims to 1) disrupt human trafficking businesses on a global scale by using existing financial system structures and processes (such as anti-money laundering and economic sanctions frameworks) to decrease the profitability of sex and labor trafficking while increasing the risk to traffickers; 2) shift financing practices to reward businesses with good labor conditions; and 3) bolster financial resiliency of vulnerable populations and trafficking survivors through financial inclusion initiatives. During their discussion, John and Sara cover issues related to the crimes of human trafficking during the pandemic, the value of partnering with the financial sector and how to get engaged in any of a variety of projects supporting the detection and prevention of human trafficking.

Beyond IP, the role of geolocation data in combating AML and fraud. John Byrne sits down with David Briggs, CEO and Co-Founder of GeoGuard and GeoComply, to discuss the limitations of IP addresses and the role that advanced geolocation data can play in AML and in fighting other types of financial fraud, FinCEN's recent guidance on encouraging innovative responses to COVID-19 fraud, and how to improve the BSA/AML data analysis infrastructure.

Steve Gurdak, Group Supervisory of the Northern Virginia Financial Initiative discusses the work of his SAR Review team, the importance of law enforcement collaboration when working SARS and the importance of SAR narratives.

Erik Vingelen - COVID-19 AML Resource Challenges by AML RightSource

Self-Awareness is like the crust of a tasty quiche. The crust, prepared separately, serves as the foundation within which all other ingredients reside. Just like a tasty quiche, Emotional Intelligence has a ‘crust' or foundation called Self-Awareness on which all other competencies are developed. This podcast discusses Self-Awareness in more detail plus provides a framework for intentional discovery.

Marilu Jimenez sits down with Andy Fernandez, partner at Holland & Knight an a leading expert in sanctions compliance. The sanctions regime has become increasingly more complex. We discussed the recent guidance OFAC issued in the summer on culture. Also, two particular types of sanctions were discussed which are extremely relevant in the US and Latin American markets: the rollback of the general licenses related to Cuba and the complexity of the Venezuelan sanctions.

In this episode of We Are Our Heroes, Chelsea Robbins and Joe McNamara sit down with Coletun Long and Chad Squires, both of whom have successfully completed their advanced CAMS certification in Financial Crimes Investigation. During their discussion, Coletun and Chad walk through the decision and execution processes that lead them to pursuing and attaining their advanced certifications. The crew also talks about opportunities in the industry, the culture at AML RightSource, and more!