Investigation or Investigating?

Why I use the terms Investigation and Investigating in the world of AML Compliance.

Yesterday I was browsing through news feeds whilst compiling my monthly newsletter. It does seem to be the case that organised criminals have taken control of our cities.

Their money is entering the system somewhere and AML registered/regulated businesses have a part to play. Compliance is not just about box ticking and until we change that mindset nothing much is going to change.

Here’s my thoughts based on a career in investigations.

Prioritise – Conduct all of your initial onboarding as an ‘investigation’ and you will have a solid foundation to decide who needs investigating further and importantly who doesn’t. You’ll save time and effort.

Use a logical, consistent process and it will be evident which clients are of higher risk and deserve more attention/investigating.

It will prevent you falling into the trap of categorising everyone low risk (because you have known them for years) or conversely everyone becoming high risk because you are being over cautious.

Regulator ready – Got an inspection coming? With a robust system you will be able to demonstrate that you have taken steps to check information, risk assess and have records of what you have done AND when.

Investigation Engine helps you do just that by providing,

✅ A systematic, easy to follow investigative approach using relevant information sources.

✅ Searches that go beyond surface-level checks.

✅ Risk assessments that will require you to record your decisions.

If and when you want to delve further we’ve got what we call the ‘query builder’. You won’t need it all the time but if you’re ‘investigating’ it’s a fantastic ally.

Sound complicated? It’s not and I guarantee it will save you time.

The goal here is to ensure compliance with regulatory standards, identify red flags and not just to satisfy an internal checklist or personal perception of risk.

Having a thorough process protects your organisation and clients by building a reliable risk profile based on facts, not assumptions.

Moving forward, let’s shift the mindset,

✅ From “I know them, so they’re low risk”

✅ To “Let’s verify, document, and understand the full picture”

This approach is not about mistrust of your clients. It’s about professional due diligence, fighting financial crime and protecting legitimate businesses.

What do ‘you’ think?

#DueDiligence #ClientOnboarding #Compliance #FinancialCrimePrevention #AML #RiskManagement

If you want to make the whole process easier why not consider Investigation Engine as your platform of choice. Revealing the realities, reducing your risks.

Colin Tansley

CEO Intelect