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 248 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the US expands sanctions targeting officials in Iraq and military-controlled conglomerates in Cuba. We look at a report on the rise in insider fraud threats and, on market abuse, the SEC prosecutes a global insider-trading ring. Additionally, the IMF has assessed governance vulnerabilities in Nepal, there is a significant cybersecurity breach of the Canvas learning platform, and Deutsche Bank’s defence of a legal action brought against it by a former trader. Finally, the World Economic Forum reports on increasing cyber threats against under-resourced sectors like healthcare and NGOs.

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 246 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the US sanctions a former president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. On fraud, a €50 million pan-European fraud network has been dismantled, and a range of counter-fraud operations in the US including one targeting cryptocurrency "pig-butchering" scam centres, and the successful prosecution of a $215 million business email compromise network. Furthermore, the European Parliament has passed a resolution on persistent anti-corruption and rule-of-law gaps across member states. Finally, Europol has published its 2026 threat assessment concerning generative AI and encryption in accelerating sophisticated cybercrime.

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 244 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the EU has adopted its 20th sanctions package against Russia, and US Treasury designations have targeted a Cambodian network linked to scam operations and human trafficking. In the UK, Serious Fraud Office is investigating an energy efficiency scheme fraud, and a former RBS manager has been sentenced for bribery. Furthermore, the FCA has announced a crackdown on illegal peer-to-peer crypto trading, and proposed reforms to the Senior Managers and Certification Regime. Finally, we direct to a debate on US waivers on Russian oil sanctions.

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 242 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, an Iranian oil-smuggling network linked to Hizballah is addressed, alongside the UK National Crime Agency charging a shipping financier for Russia-related sanctions breaches and money laundering. There is the sentencing of two US nationals for facilitating a multi-million dollar fraud, and the FCA’s new research into synthetic data for anti-money laundering. Additionally, the episode covers the outcomes of Operation PowerOFF, a global crackdown on DDoS-for-hire services, and the UK government’s warnings regarding the rapid advancement of AI-enabled cyber threats. Finally, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation has announced a new three-year strategy to strengthen the UK’s financial sanctions framework. 

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 240 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the US Treasury issues guidance targeting "sham transactions" used to evade sanctions, and the DoJ establishes the National Fraud Enforcement Division to coordinate major fraud prosecutions. Globally, Operation Atlantic disrupts $45 million in cryptocurrency schemes. In Australia, AUSTRAC has announced findings on AML vulnerabilities in foreign−owned banks and the US Attorney’s Office for New Jersey has made a record $1.5 billion in criminal and civil recoveries. Finally, some news on oversight for stablecoin issuers and the latest developments in a significant costs dispute involving the Serious Fraud Office.

A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.