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Financial Crime Investigation Methods in South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands: Regulators’ Focus Areas
Regulators worldwide are increasingly focusing on preventing financial crime and mitigating risks associated with it. This includes the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, a British overseas territory with limited economic activity but significant potential for illicit financial flows.
Key Regulatory Focus Areas
The following areas will be under increased scrutiny:
AML/CFT Frameworks
- Prevent shell companies and all-cash real estate purchases that can be used to launder money
- Develop robust anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CFT) controls
Fraud Models and Investigation Processes
- Implement robust fraud detection and investigation procedures to identify suspicious activity
- Enhance employee training on fraud recognition and reporting
Insider Corruption
- Employee misconduct, vendor/third-party misconduct, and cybercrime will continue to pose significant risks
- Implement enhanced controls and monitoring to prevent insider corruption
Sanctions Compliance
- Regulators will monitor virtual currency mining, dark net markets, and other activities that may evade sanctions
- Develop robust sanctions compliance programs to prevent illicit financial flows
Emerging Risks and Trends
The report highlights the growing importance of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) factors in financial crime management. These include:
- Anti-bribery and corruption
- Competitive behavior
- Lobbying/political involvement
- Code of conduct compliance
Conclusion
Financial institutions operating in the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands must prioritize compliance with evolving regulatory requirements to mitigate risks associated with financial crime.
Recommendations for Financial Institutions
To address these challenges, financial institutions should consider the following:
Implement Advanced Client Onboarding Procedures
- Add analytics and automation to client onboarding to detect and prevent money laundering
- Implement AI-powered tools to enhance due diligence and risk assessment
Upgrade Systems and Processes
- Eliminate antiquated technology and upgrade systems to ensure real-time monitoring and detection of suspicious activity
Establish a Mature Conduct Risk Program
- Develop robust controls and procedures to identify, assess, and mitigate conduct risks
- Enhance employee training on conduct risk management and reporting
Strengthen Controls in Regulatory Focal Areas
- Enhance AML/CFT, sanctions compliance, and insider corruption controls
- Implement regular audits and testing to ensure effective implementation of regulatory requirements