Financial Crime Weekly Podcast

Welcome to episode 255 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the U.S. Treasury has modernised its sanctions lists, and settled with FTI Consulting for dealings in prohibited Russian debt. In the UK, the Public Accounts Committee reports on the Ministry of Defence fraud risk, and the government warns offshore financial hubs about transparency. We also look at the entry into force of the EU’s harmonised Anti−Corruption Directive and a $21 million market manipulation conviction against a prominent activist short seller.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.The photograph on the podcast cover art is by Sora Shimazaki at Pexels, and the stinger sample between each news section is ‘Ben Logo 1’ by BenKirb from Pixabay.

Welcome to episode 253 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the UK imposes sanctions targeting Russian evasion networks, and the US designates Lebanese officials linked to Hizballah. From the UK, a report is published highlighting the estimated £325 billion in illicit funds which move through the UK annually, and the dismissal of a "circular" fraud defence in the billion-dollar Privatbank case. In US fraud news, a 500-month sentence for a non-profit founder, and a 12-year prison term for a multinational firm owner involved in a $2 billion fraud scheme. In Australia the anti-corruption chief has resigned, and the FDIC has proposed compliance standards for stablecoin issuers. Finally, we discuss Europol’s tracing of millions in criminal assets across 31 countries, and the new UK-Australia partnership addressing AI-driven cyber threats.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Welcome to episode 251 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, OFSI fines Deutsche Bank for Russia sanctions breaches, and the US reaches a settlement with Adani Enterprises over prohibited transactions involving Iranian cargo. There is a $1 billion US federal crackdown on nationwide fraud schemes, alongside the arrest of a former Venezuelan minister for large-scale money laundering linked to state food-distribution programmes. We also look at joint warnings from UK financial authorities and the ICO regarding the accelerating threat of AI-driven cybercrime and deepfake impersonation, and report on INTERPOL’s Operation Ramz on cybercrime across the MENA region.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Welcome to episode 249 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the US and UK have expanded various of their sanctions regimes, while on fraud, the US has had heightened activity including the conviction of Bradley Heppner in a $150 million securities fraud scheme and the sentencing of a ringleader whose multinational network defrauded the elderly and vulnerable. Additionally, in the UK, the FRC sanctions former Carillion directors for reckless misconduct, and the ICO issues a near £1 million fine against South Staffordshire Water for a prolonged data breach. Finally, we look at the Google Threat Intelligence’s warnings regarding the industrial-scale integration of AI by cyber-threat actors, and the outcomes of an international conference on economic crime held in London.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Welcome to episode 247 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, new UK sanctions target Russian drone manufacturing supply chains and migrant exploitation, and the FATF has published its mutual evaluation of Singapore. In the US, two individuals are sentenced for a genetic testing fraud, and in the UK Ultra Electronics has agreed a Deferred Prosecution Agreement for bribery failures. Finally, the FCA has cracked down on illegal financial promotions, the FSCS warns of increasingly sophisticated scam tactics, and in Moldova an OSCE initiative addresses corruption risks associated with virtual assets.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Welcome to episode 245 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the US Treasury’s extensive sanctions targeting Iran’s "shadow banking" network and its global oil revenue streams, alongside the UK’s announcement of upcoming sanctions updates and revised trade licensing procedures. A French national has been sentenced for laundering nearly half a billion dollars through an unlicensed cryptocurrency exchange, and the FCA has announced a crackdown on "finfluencer" promotions. A US soldier has been charged with using classified data to influence prediction-market bets and a court ruling lifts anonymity in an NCA unexplained wealth case. Finally, the BIS has published a paper on the prudential risks of crypto conglomerates and an investigation has commenced into the unauthorised sale of volunteer data from the UK Biobank.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Welcome to episode 243 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, new US sanctions targeting Iraqi militia commanders, procurement networks for Iranian missile technology, and facilitators of the conflict in Sudan. Deutsche Bank has self-disclosed potential breaches of Russian sanctions, and the EU has adopted a new directive aimed at standardising corruption offences and penalties across its membership. The FATF has made a commitment to addressing the global surge in fraud, and a Long Island business owner has been sentenced for COVID-19 fraud. Finally, the SEC has settled two separate insider trading cases, and the UK cyber agency has warned leadership of the rise of AI-driven threats to national infrastructure.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Welcome to episode 241 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the US Department of Justice has launched a $40 million remission process for victims of the OneCoin cryptocurrency fraud, and new sanctions are issued targeting casinos and associates linked to the Cartel del Noreste. AUSTRAC has warned the wealth management sector over a significant lack of suspicious matter reporting, and the UK government has a call for evidence on how ownership and control rules are applied in financial sanctions compliance. The episode also covers a cyber incident at the law firm Jones Day, the conviction of a former Ugandan minister, and a billionaire broker argues for the removal of the ban on insider trading.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Welcome to episode 239 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, record financial fraud losses are reported by the FTC and FBI, totalling $15.9 billion and $21 billion, respectively. The Department of Justice has taken enforcement action in relation to healthcare and COVID-19 fraud, and FinCEN has proposed an overhaul of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing programme requirements. Additionally, the episode covers the US Fiscal Year 2027 budget proposal and its financial crime impact. Finally, there is advanced training in Montenegro to strengthen transnational financial investigations, and a round-up of cyber-attacks news.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Welcome to episode 238 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the US lifts sanctions on Venezuela’s acting president and several Russian-flagged vessels, and the UK extends a general licence. The SEC brings insider trading charges, while in the UK, the FRC closes its investigation into KPMG. Additionally, the episode covers Transparency International’s assessment of global financial secrecy 10 years after the ‘Panama Papers’, and there is a reported cyber-attack on Hasbro. A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Cybercrime is always in the news. It is high profile. It is impossible to open a news-based website on any day without seeing news that an attack has taken place. Indeed, the most recent high-profile cyberattack in the UK on Jaguar Land Rover has closed the production line, sent employees home, and has the UK government stumping up £1.5bn in pandemic-style support for the supply chain. Against that background, it is unsurprising to see that the cost of cybercrime is expected to rise to $10.5 trillion by the time we’re singing Auld Land Syne on 31st December this year. It is a crucial topic for corporate and individual alike. Consequently, I’m delighted to be joined today by Craig Taylor, CEO CyberHoot. CyberHoot is a cybersecurity awareness training platform designed to educate employees and strengthen a company's human defences against cyber threats, with a core mission of reducing organisational risk by improving "cyber literacy" among staff. What is unique about Cyberhoot’s approach is blending cyber security and psychology to reshape how organisations approach cyber security awareness, focusing on positive reinforcement by rewarding cyber literacy.Craig has kindly offered 20% off CyberHoot for one year using the coupon code: "Financial Crimes"About CyberHootMain Website: https://cyberhoot.com/Individual Registration (Free Personal Training for Life): https://cyberhoot.com/individuals/Businesses & MSP Registration Signup: https://nest.cyberhoot.com/autopilot-signup/?Newsletter Registration: https://cyberhoot.com/newsletters/Blog Articles: https://cyberhoot.com/blog/Cybrary (Cybersecurity Library of Terms in Layperson language): https://cyberhoot.com/cybrary/

Welcome to episode 235 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the US Treasury designates a 16-member network accused of diverting funds to Hizballah, and there is a guilty plea from a former bank CEO involving a multimillion-dollar fraud. In the UK, the NCA reports on the outcome of Operation Henhouse, and there is a new global public-private framework aimed at strengthening fraud prevention. The FCA has launched a formal investigation into the collapse of Market Financial Solutions, and announced a trial of Palantir technology for financial crime analysis. Finally, there is an international operation to dismantle a fraudulent dark web network, and a Dutch penal order issued against Fleurette for foreign bribery in the DRC.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Welcome to episode 233 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, INTERPOL and the UNODC raise the problem of the "industrialisation of fraud." In England, the High Court has ruled that the tort of conversion cannot be used to recover stolen cryptocurrency, and the Environment Agency is to have police powers to address waste crime. The Council of the European Union has imposed new sanctions targeting malicious cyber activities and Russian hybrid threats. In the US, an Executive Order creates a task force to coordinate a national strategy against fraud, and the DOJ has seized $14.9 million linked to a trade-based money laundering scheme.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.