Even though it has been romanticized in movies and TV shows, the reality is that money laundering is just a serious problem. The process of criminals turning their ill-gotten gains into “clean” cash has ramifications for numerous parties.
It’s also a thing that remains prevalent – and shows no signs of disappearing any moment soon. Following recent statistics, money laundering activities today cost the world around 5% of its GDP.
Another problem is that money laundering can negatively impact your organization, even though you don’t have any direct influence or knowledge about it happening. This is very the case if you have a financial institution and an individual uses your services to process their illegal money.
Checkout 4 Prime Guide To Anti-Money Laundering For Your Business:
You must be prepared because money laundering can lead to large fines, damaged reputations, and even spells behind bars. Here’s a quick starter guide on anti-money laundering (AML) for your business.
1. Make use of software solutions
Software solutions have made companies a lot more efficient and productive. From accounting to conducting data analysis, the application takes a lot of manual effort, removes human error from the equation, and processes typically take hours, meaning they can be carried out in a matter of seconds.
The same applies when you incorporate AML compliance software solutions into your process. With specially designed software, you can monitor transactions, quickly screen customers, investigate suspicious cases with in-depth reports, and so on. All this helps you to minimize the risk of money laundering in your company.
2. Educate your staff
The program provides your AML efforts with a powerful foundation. However, the following layer should result from your employees. When your personnel is educated about money laundering and the signs to consider, this better protects your company using this activity.
Regular education must certainly be provided, never just to match the most recent developments but also to adhere to government regulations.
3. Report suspicious activity
If you identify any activity that you deem suspicious from a money laundering standpoint, you must report this to authorities. When putting together your report, ensure you reference the client and provide details about the transaction.
There are many paths you can take to report suspicious activity. This can be carried out by your financial institution, a regulator, or perhaps a police force agency. Whichever channel you use, ensure you fill them in with all relevant details.
Understand there are many different kinds of suspicious activity. Even if you’re unsure about whether a transaction is just a money laundering attempt or not, it’s safer to report this even during a precaution.
4. Add extra verification measures for customers
Doing your due diligence with customers will probably pay off in the long run. Yes, it requires extra effort, but it also reduces the likelihood of criminals trying to make the most of your business.
There are numerous methods to include verification processes for ensuring clients are who they say they are, including checking utility bills, bank statements, or perhaps a government-issued ID such as a passport.
