How money laundering took over our high streets Opinion American candy stores and vape shops are the new face of financial crime, hiding in plain sight, says Marit Rodevand Walk down almost any British high street today and you’ll see them: neon-lit candy stores selling purportedly “American” sweets, vape shops and barbers with a faded poster of Cristiano Ronaldo taped to the window. Superficially, these [...]
Brits swindled out of thousands by unregulated online financial advice Personal Finance People have lost thousands of pounds after acting on advice from online unverified sources, despite industry figures warning that their guidance can be misleading or incorrect. Over 40 per cent of Brits admitted to taking advice from online sources, including ‘finfluencers’ and chatbots, without first verifying its legitimacy, according to the latest data from fintech [...]
Themis snaps up Pasabi in AI fraud fight as financial crime costs soar Tech London-based financial crime intelligence firm Themis has acquired fraud monitoring company Pasabi, in a move aimed to accelerate the use of AI in tackling one of the fastest-growing criminal threats facing businesses and consumers globally. The deal, approved under the UK Home Office’s National Security and Investment Act, is set to fold Pasabi’s fraud detection [...]
Barclays slapped with £42m fine for financial crime failings July 16, 2025 Barclays has been hit with a £42m fine by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for separate instances where the bank failed in its financial crime risk management. The City watchdog blasted Barclays for failing to check it had gathered “sufficient information to understand the money laundering risk” before it opened a client money account for [...]
Monzo slapped with £21m fine by City regulator July 8, 2025 Monzo has been slapped with a £21m fine by the Financial Conduct Authority after “repeatedly” opening accounts for “high-risk” customers. The UK fintech was blasted by the City watchdog for failing to keep the pace of its crime control with its customer and product growth. Between August 2020 and June 2022, Monzo signed up over [...]
Fintech hiring to boom after cyber attack carnage May 27, 2025 UK fintech is set for another shot of momentum after a series of cyber attacks on top retailers exposed a need for greater security expansion. Hiring in the industry is projected to increase 32 per cent in 2025 as risk and compliance becomes crucial amid surges in financial crime. Marks and Spencer suffered a near-£700m [...]
Major Companies House change launched as business leaders called to action April 8, 2025 Business leaders can now verify their identity on Companies House as part of a major drive designed to slash economic crime. As of today, 8 April, directors can voluntarily verify their identity before it becomes a legal requirement later this year. More than six million individuals will need to comply in the 12 months after [...]
Metro Bank given hefty fine by City regulator for financial crime failings November 12, 2024 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said that Metro Bank had failed to adequately monitor over 60m transactions for money laundering risks between June 2016 and December 2020.
UK urged to lead ‘cross-border war’ against fraudsters as billions lost September 30, 2024 In a new report, the Social Market Foundation (SMF) estimated that 21 per cent of adults globally have been victims of fraud in the last three years.
Wife of ‘McMafia banker’ agrees to forfeit golf club and Knightsbridge mansion August 5, 2024 The wife of convicted fraudster Jahangir Hajiyev has agreed to forfeit a mansion in Knightsbridge worth approximately £14m and a a golf club in Ascot, following a lengthy investigation by the National Crime Agency.