Sanction Scanner Blog

Arabic, Cyrillic, and Chinese names rarely have one correct Latin spelling. Why transliteration breaks name screening, and the matching fixes that catch variants.

How banks screen parties, vessels, ports and dual-use goods across the letter of credit lifecycle. Red flags, regulatory sources and a workflow checklist

Comprehensive sanctions block a country. Sectoral sanctions block specific transactions. Understand the difference, the SSI vs SDN split, and screening impact.

Sanctions evasion in four forms: shell companies, trade obfuscation, the shadow fleet, and crypto. How each hides the sanctioned party and how to screen for it.

FinCEN registration does not authorize you to operate in a single state. Learn how state money transmitter licensing works, who needs an MTL, what the licensing process really costs in time and capital, and how the MTMA is reshaping a 50-state patchwork.

The CFO of a national oil company is a PEP, even without a political title. Learn why SOE executives qualify as politically exposed persons, how the link hides in ownership layers, and where it collides with OFAC's 50% Rule.

PEP Screening for Non-Profits: Donor Due Diligence Guide: How charities screen PEP donors, partners and trustees without over-screening beneficiaries. FATF R.8, OFSI rules, source of wealth, and a practical checklist.

How PEPs hide behind trusts, nominees, and layered companies, and how compliance teams can screen every role and layer to find the real owner.

OFAC tells you who you can't do business with. FinCEN tells you how to detect and report suspicious activity. A complete guide to the two US Treasury bureaus and how to comply with both.