To combat money laundering, it is necessary to understand how criminal organizations operate. The process generally follows three clearly defined stages, and technology must be able to intercept each of them.
1. Placement: this is the most vulnerable stage, where cash first enters the financial system (deposits, asset purchases, currency exchanges).
2. Layering: this is the most complex phase. Multiple transactions are carried out (transfers between accounts, tax havens, shell companies) to erase the trace of the money's origin.
3. Integration: the money, now appearing legal, is invested in legitimate businesses or luxury goods.
The role of transactional monitoring
Detecting the layering stage is impossible without massive data analysis tools. Transaction monitoring systems look for unusual patterns that do not fit the customer's economic profile.
Early detection with AgileCheck Defense
Our solution AgileCheck Defense analyzes behaviors in real time. If a customer who usually transacts low amounts starts receiving international transfers from high-risk jurisdictions, the system issues an early alert. Documenting this detection is key to complying with the suspicious activity report (SAR).