AML Conversations

In this episode, Elliot Berman and John Byrne break down the major developments from the February FATF Plenary, including Kuwait and Papua New Guinea joining the Grey List and updates on evaluations for Austria, Italy, and Singapore. They also explore FATF leadership changes and the reiteration of Russia’s suspension.

The conversation moves into rising crypto-enabled human trafficking networks highlighted in a new report from Chainalysis, Cambodia’s large-scale crackdown on fraud centers, and several key U.S. regulatory updates. These include FinCEN’s new CDD “exceptive relief,” the rollout of a whistleblower portal, and the OCC’s proposed changes to the bank appeals process.

Elliot and John also discuss recent law enforcement actions, Supreme Court efforts to strengthen conflict-of-interest checks, and a Federal Reserve governor’s insight into how AI may reshape the labor market.

In this week’s episode of This Week in AML, Elliot and John unpack a wide-ranging set of global developments impacting financial crime compliance. They preview key agenda items from the FATF Plenary in Mexico City, including new mutual evaluations and technology-focused initiatives. The conversation also examines Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, highlighting troubling downward trends among high-scoring democracies, including the U.S.

Elliot and John also explore the EU’s proposed sanctions package targeting Russian crypto activity, the FTC’s latest ransomware oversight report, new OFAC actions related to Hezbollah, recent enforcement in the crypto fraud space, and ongoing gaps in U.S. regulation of the antiquities market. Additional topics include global efforts to combat illicit gold trafficking, Jersey’s move toward comprehensive modern slavery legislation, and seasonal warnings about romance‑investment scams.

In this episode of Third Party Risk Perspectives, host Chris Sindik, Senior Director of Third-Party Risk and Due Diligence at Blue Umbrella, sits down with Sakshi Sharma, Assistant Manager and leader of Blue Umbrella’s monitoring team, to explore the fast-evolving world of terrorist financing.

Sakshi shares frontline insights into both traditional funding methods—such as counterfeit goods, drug trafficking, charity fraud, and illicit oil sales—and the next-generation tactics reshaping the threat landscape. Together, they discuss how terrorist groups now exploit social media, online gaming, digital payments, deepfakes, and AI-powered propaganda to recruit vulnerable youth, launder money, and spread misinformation.

Listeners will learn:

• How modern online platforms enable covert recruitment and financial flows
• Why deepfakes and AI increase the effectiveness of terrorist propaganda
• How scammers manipulate youth culture through “easy money” schemes
• What organizations and individuals can do to stay vigilant
• Why awareness, skepticism, and strong internal controls are more critical than ever

This is an essential conversation for compliance professionals, risk leaders, parents, and anyone navigating today’s hyperconnected world.

In this week’s episode of This Week in AML, Elliot Berman and John Byrne cover a fast-moving landscape of regulatory, financial crime, and geopolitical developments across the U.S., EU, and beyond.

They discuss the latest releases of Epstein-related files and the surprising absence of financial‑transaction disclosures, a Wall Street Journal investigation into a major foreign investment tied to AI chip access, and new insights into U.S. corporate tax transparency. The conversation moves through significant DOJ actions, a controversial ICE memo, and key UK updates on crypto-related sanctions, data‑quality failures, and public consultations.

Elliot and John also explore new EU priorities for AMLA, research on illicit antiquities trafficking, a deep-sea mining corruption investigation, and the DOJ’s 2025 Fraud Section Year‑in‑Review. If your work touches financial crime, sanctions, compliance, or emerging‑risk intelligence, this episode is packed with timely developments that matter.

In this edition of AML Conversations, John Byrne sits down with financial crime expert Sarah Beth Felix, author of Dirty Money Weekly, for the first installment of a new monthly series. Together, they unpack some of the most pressing and misunderstood challenges in today’s AML landscape—from overlooked regulatory risks to the evolving reality of crypto-related crime.

Sarah Beth breaks down recent FINRA enforcement actions and explains why traditional financial institutions shouldn’t assume that regulation elsewhere means reduced risk at home. John and Sarah Beth also explore the shifting tone of U.S. supervision, including why banks considering staff or training cuts could be setting themselves up for trouble.

The conversation then turns to the political and operational complexities of de-risking/de-banking, and a deep dive into emerging healthcare-related fraud typologies.

A candid, insightful, and highly practical conversation—perfect for AML professionals, financial crime investigators, compliance leaders, and anyone navigating the fast-changing world of regulatory risk.