Your guide to global sanctions lists

In a nutshell: When processing high numbers of payees and large transaction volumes, screening through (mandatory) sanctions lists can prove to be an obstacle to global growth. Tackling them solo is a challenge – but Payoneer can help facilitate a seamless KYC process. By easily identifying sanctioned entities upon transaction, Payoneer can help secure the safety of your platform.

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Today, sending money cross-border is easier than ever. However, there is no shortage of fraudulent groups and individuals engaged in illegal activity looking to take advantage of those very platforms that break down global borders and facilitate trade. To fight this phenomenon on a global scale, sanctions lists were put in place.

What are sanctions lists?

Sanctions lists were put in place by governments and international authorities (think: UN) to combat criminal financial activity. They help businesses identify countries, individuals, or entities involved in financial crime and work to restrict or prohibit trade with said foreign targets suspected of engaging in illegal activities across the globe.

So, who can I expect to find on these lists?

It is impossible to save the world from all wrongdoing. There will always be someone who manages to sneak under the radar or outsmart the most sophisticated legal authorities. But those that don’t (which, let’s hope, is the majority) find themselves blacklisted via sanctions lists.  Sanctions lists include individuals, organizations, or entire nations involved in the criminal financing of the following sort of activities:

• Terrorism
• Illegal drug trafficking
• Nuclear weapon proliferation
• Human rights violations
• International treaty violation
• Human trafficking
• Money laundering

Who must comply with these lists?

Compliance with global sanctions lists is mandatory. Any business wishing to engage in cross-border activities must ensure compliance with the sanctions limitations of the countries in which it operates. Failure to comply may be viewed as a threat to national security or foreign relations. Accordingly, non-compliance results in serious penalties and repercussions – whether financial (fines of up to $20M), or criminal (prison sentences of up to 30 years). When expanding globally, internal inspection of all stakeholders is key to ensuring alignment with the limitations of the market to which you are expanding. This is no easy task – especially when processing high-volumes of transactions from hundreds of thousands, or millions of users.

Got it. So how can Payoneer help?

As a tightly regulated global financial entity, Payoneer operates under a robust compliance program that, at its core, is supported by a highly-trained international risk operations team. Accordingly, our solution is built on the anti-money laundering and counter terrorism funding policies and procedures laid out by the EU, UN, and US. Every payout transacted through Payoneer is processed and reviewed thoroughly by our Entity Screener – a robust internal screening tool that aligns with the lists of OFAC, SDN, HMT, RES 1988, AQ and CFSP and more. Choosing to work with Payoneer ensures compliance with global regulation and with country-specific sanctions lists.

Which lists are relevant for my company?

The lists with which you comply will vary based on the countries in which you operate and transact with. Governments across the globe maintain targeted lists specific to their country. These lists are often public knowledge, accessible via the internet to all businesses engaging in KYC (know-your-customer) processes. Here are some key sanctions lists to keep in mind:

• OFAC: Relevant to the United States, this list is issued by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC).
• HMT: HM Treasury (HMT) is the British sanction-issuing entity issuing sanctions. The HMT imposes arms embargoes, import, export, and travel bans, and financial sanctions on entities or individuals that appear on this list.
• CFSP: The Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) is the European Union’s consolidated list of sanctioned entities and individuals.
• ASF: The Ministry of Finance of Japan (MOFJ) oversees and regulates the ASF.
• UN Lists: The United Nation’s Security Council has issued several sanction lists in response to security threats. Resolution 1267, for example, covers individuals and entities associated with Al-Qaeda. 1718 imposes sanctions on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), and 1988 on the Taliban.
• Australian List: The Australian Government imposes sanctions on this list of entities.

Can I tackle this sort of compliance challenge solo?

Sanctions compliance requires substantial resources and failure to comply comes with high costs.

The lists mentioned above are only a tiny sample of the many, many sanctions lists imposed worldwide. Aside from being mandatory, these restrictions secure a smoother and more fair flow of funds. With 195 countries out there, keeping track of global sanctions is a nearly impossible task. It involves processing massive amounts of data – on individuals, their aliases, geographic locations, and networks. Doing so on a case-by-case basis is an impossibility for any global business processing significant transaction volumes daily.

Taking on internal screening is possible but requires heavy allocation of time and resources to the development of an appropriate screening tool or mechanism.The stakes for non-compliance are high – with hefty financial and criminal consequences in place. Keep that in mind when approaching the crossroads of entering a new market. And remember that with Payoneer, you have a full partner in ensuring compliance. Payoneer’s automatic screening mechanism can be easily integrated with your online platform or marketplace to ensure full sanctions list compliance when processing global payments.