Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Here are some of the biggest revelations that came out of the leaked FinCEN reports

Here are some of the biggest revelations that came out of the leaked FinCEN reports

A BuzzFeed report revealed files showing JPMorgan Chase, HSBC, and Deutsche Bank facilitated the movement of criminal money even after getting caught.

Thousands of leaked documents shared with hundreds of journalists reveal how some of the world's biggest banks have for years facilitated the movement of dirty money.

The documents are part of a collection of files that belongs to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, an agency operating under the Treasury Department to detect and prevent financial crimes, and were first published by Buzzfeed and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.

The agency is in charge of compiling "suspicious activity reports" when it detects potential or evident financial crimes. The documents are distributed and shared with law enforcement and financial intelligence groups around the world, but the agency does not force banks engaging in financial crimes to stop, BuzzFeed News, which obtained the leaked documents, reported.

The report said banks such as JPMorgan Chase, HSBC, and Deutsche Bank, among others, engaged with and facilitated the movement of criminal money even after getting caught.

The files detail movements and transactions for almost two decades, starting from 2000 and continuing into 2017.

"These documents, compiled by banks, shared with the government, but kept from public view, expose the hollowness of banking safeguards, and the ease with which criminals have exploited them," Buzzfeed reported. "Profits from deadly drug wars, fortunes embezzled from developing countries, and hard-earned savings stolen in a Ponzi scheme were all allowed to flow into and out of these financial institutions, despite warnings from the banks' own employees."

Here are some of the biggest revelations to come out of the bombshell report:

A Ponzi scheme to move millions of dollars around the world



A man walks past a logo of HSBC at its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.


HSBC allowed fraudsters involved with WCM777, a Ponzi scheme, to move millions of dollars around the world, the BBC reported.

The bank was notified by US investigators that the business was a scam, but fraudsters working with WCM777 were still able to move around more than $15 million. At the time of notice, WCM777 was barred from conducting business in three states.

The Ponzi scheme that ran out of WCM777 victimized thousands of Asian and Latino immigrants, according to the BBC and BuzzFeed News, targeting poor communities in various nations around the world.

Big banks processed huge transactions affiliated with a politician wanted by Interpol



A man walks into the JP Morgan headquarters at Canary Wharf in London.


JP Morgan Chase, along with Bank of America, Citibank, and American Express, processed huge transactions affiliated with a former Kazakhstan mayor wanted by Interpol, BuzzFeed News reported.

The family of Viktor Khrapunov used JP Morgan Chase to handle millions of dollars in transactions. Khrapunov, the former mayor, ran off to Switzerland but Kazakhstan attached to his charges of bribe-taking, among others.

Putin associate used a big bank to evade sanctions and launder money



A Barclays bank office is seen at Canary Wharf in London.


A close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin used Barclays Bank as a way to avoid sanctions and launder money, the BBC reported.

The United States and the European Union in 2014 imposed sanctions on Arkady Rotenberg, a billionaire close to Putin, restricting him from conducting business with Western banks.

Barclays has not admitted any wrongdoing.

$142 million worth of suspicious transactions



Central Bank of The U.A.E. in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.


The United Arab Emirates' central bank in 2011 and 2012 processed $142 million, despite the transactions being labeled as suspicious, the BBC reported.

A British bank noted the activity, flagging it out of suspicion. But the Gunes General Trading, the firm responsible for pushing the transactions through the central bank, continued to use local financial institutions to process them.

Movement of money for organized crime, terrorists, and drug traffickers



People walk past a Deutsche Bank office in London.


Deutsche Bank facilitated the movement of money for organized crime, terrorists, and drug traffickers, according to BuzzFeed News.

Managers and top executives at Deutsche Bank knew that the bank was susceptible to criminals seeking money laundering services, according to documents reviewed by BuzzFeed News.

When reached for comment, the bank said it's "learnt from our mistakes" and billed itself a "different bank" now.

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
U.S. Goods Imports Plunge Nearly 20% Amid Tariff Disruptions
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
Trump Accuses China of Violating Trade Agreement
OpenAI Faces Competition from Cheaper AI Rivals
Foreign Tax Provision in U.S. Budget Bill Alarms Investors
Russia Accuses Serbia of Supplying Arms to Ukraine
Gerry Adams Wins Libel Case Against BBC
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
EU Majority Demands Hungary Reverse Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws
Top Hotel Picks for 2025 Stays in Budapest Revealed
Iron Maiden Unveils 2025 Tour Setlist in Budapest
Chinese Film Week Opens in Budapest to Promote Cultural Exchange
Budapest Airport Launches Direct Flights to Shymkent
Von der Leyen Denies Urging EU Officials to Skip Budapest Pride
Alcaraz and Sinner Advance with Convincing Wins at Roland Garros
EU Ministers Lack Consensus on Sanctioning Hungary Over Rule of Law
EU Nations Urge Action Against Hungary's Pride Parade Ban
Putin's Helicopter Reportedly Targeted by Ukrainian Drones
U.S. Considers Withdrawing Troops from Europe
Russia Deploys Motorbike Squads in Ukraine Conflict
Critics Accuse European Court of Human Rights of Overreach
Spain Proposes 100% Tax on Non-EU Holiday Home Purchases
German Intelligence Labels AfD as Far-Right Extremist
Geert Wilders Threatens Dutch Coalition Over Migration Policy
Hungary Faces Multiple Challenges Amid EU Tensions and Political Shifts
Denmark Increases Retirement Age to 70, Setting a European Precedent
Any trade deal with US must be based on respect not threats', says EU commissioner
UK Leads in Remote Work Adoption, Averaging 1.8 Days a Week
Thirteen Killed in Russian Attacks Across Ukraine
High-Profile Incidents and Political Developments Dominate Global News
Netanyahu Accuses Western Leaders of 'Emboldening Hamas'
Ukraine and Russia Conduct Largest Prisoner Exchange of the War
×