money laundering activities

Singapore government report: Banks are a high-risk area in money laundering activities due to their financial attributes and service characteristics

ChainCatcher news, according to Bloomberg, the Singapore government released a 126-page report on Thursday that deeply assesses the money laundering risks faced by the country. The report points out that in the process of attracting global super-rich individuals and building an international financial wealth center, Singapore also faces severe anti-money laundering challenges. This situation makes Singapore vulnerable to being used as a channel for laundering proceeds from overseas financial fraud and other criminal activities.The report details various money laundering methods within Singapore, including the use of bank accounts, payment accounts, shell companies, and other complex structures and arrangements for fund transfers and concealment. The report particularly emphasizes that banks, due to their financial attributes and service characteristics, have become high-risk areas in money laundering activities.Singapore's banking system is vast, with over 150 banks, many of which offer convenient online financial services, facilitating electronic fund transfers. This also provides opportunities for money laundering activities.According to the report, in a recent money laundering scandal, Singapore authorities seized over 1.5 billion Singapore dollars from related bank accounts. These funds are associated with 10 convicted Chinese nationals and 17 fugitives. Additionally, cash, cryptocurrencies, properties, gems, jewelry, watches, and luxury handbags were also seized from criminals.

U.S. Senator Warren proposes anti-money laundering legislation for digital assets to combat crypto money laundering activities

ChainCatcher news, according to CNN, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren is attempting to push for bipartisan efforts in Congress to combat money laundering in the cryptocurrency industry. Warren's office stated that she is collaborating with Kansas Republican Senator Roger Marshall to introduce new legislation on Wednesday.The new bill, titled the Digital Asset Anti-Money Laundering Act, aims to combat money laundering by attempting to align the digital asset ecosystem with the existing anti-money laundering framework in the global financial system. The bill will direct the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) to classify digital asset wallet providers, miners, validators, and other entities as money services businesses. This, in turn, will expand the scope of responsibilities under the Bank Secrecy Act to the crypto industry, including KYC requirements.The bill will also compel regulators to advance new restrictions aimed at closing the loopholes that allow individuals to bypass anti-money laundering and sanctions checks. Specifically, it will instruct FinCEN to finalize and implement a rule proposed in 2020 that would require banks and money services businesses to verify the identities of customers and counterparties, maintain records, and submit reports related to non-custodial wallets or wallets associated with jurisdictions that do not comply with banking regulations.Other requirements of the bill include:Prohibiting banks and other financial institutions from using technologies that enhance anonymity (such as digital asset mixers) or engaging in transactions with them, and banning the processing of digital assets that utilize these technologies.Expanding the Bank Secrecy Act rules regarding foreign bank account reporting to include digital assets, requiring U.S. persons conducting digital asset transactions exceeding $10,000 through overseas accounts to report to the IRS.Directing regulators to strengthen the enforcement of the Bank Secrecy Act by establishing compliance review procedures for money services businesses.Targeting digital asset ATMs to ensure operators and administrators submit and update the actual addresses of their ATMs. (Source link)
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