Watch List Screening: Challenges, Necessities and Resolve of Process
Posted by Linqs Inc on May 2nd, 2022
Crucial point of watch list screening takes a chunk of processes to execute. Governmental authorities in different countries implement national, federal and state trade control laws for prohibiting business with denied individuals, sanctioned persons or countries and entities.
We can find out ‘why’ of this proposition that goes back to various events in the past, leading up to several measures. Most likely that businesses have a bit of headache listening to all these terms and jargons in the same length and tenor as explained by an expert.
The Main Concept
Databases and checks against money launderers, arms traffickers, fraudsters, terrorist organizations, and PEPs form the watch lists and stored internationally at the governmental level. Watch list screening verifies identity from different sources encompassing reliable data, including governmental and global agencies.
Challenges with global lists
OFAC screening, DFARS, ITAR, FAR, international agency lists, global sanction lists and others bear a huge significance in preventing illegal transactions, technology transfers or business deals. However, coming across too many lists and examining them at the same time or traversing data through different available routs may not give a practical solution to a business.
A business facing roadblocks in the competition may feel overburdened with trade regulatory compliance needs and require adept solution for the same.
Necessities of watch lists
Right from the start, we have highlighted why screening are carried out. Not just an agency POV, but a business POV has to be taken into account. Failure of compliance leads to loss of reputation, criminal or civil prosecution, penalties, and so on. A business may not thrive after a penalization due to apparent reasons.
That just being said, any opportunity to sneak illegal transactions can lead to dangerous ramifications, including terrorist activities and money laundering. Therefore, stringent measures are taken in the first place. Banks and non-banking financial institutions have taken KYC screening to match the banking regulators’ need for keeping an eye on high-risk individuals or entities.
Export screening & trade
In a voluntary event, exporters had decided to prohibit trade with banned individuals and entities. The trade compliance regulations in the United States prevent exports to sanctioned countries and entities.
Export control and export screening help businesses to acquire license for trade of products or services or commodities. Any illegal transaction may land to serious trouble like ban of export license, penalties or rigorous imprisonment.
The ‘automated’ resolve
Modern technology has helped trade compliance programs to run seamlessly. A small or mid-sized business doesn’t have to get hinged between resources and trade compliance without support. The automated screening software enable smooth and effortless screening of trade partners, customers, businesses and more.
Given the scale of operations in a business and immediate demands of trade compliance, a business shouldn’t get subdued by difficulties. It’s better to hire an expert in these matters, such as trade compliance consultants, who can guide through internal control programs and measures.
Matters could be handled in a pragmatic way with the help of compliance professionals.
Author Bio:-
Linqs Inc highlights the necessities of watch list screening in this piece. From discussing the need of prohibiting illegal trade to highlighting the need of export screening and export control, the author offers a brief overview about the matter. He also shares some information on OFAC screening and global screening lists.
