‘Actions must follow words’; FATF chief welcomes G20 backing in tackling environmental crime; challenges member countries to live up to promises

Regulatory Watch News

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  FMA imposes sanction against Kurant GmbH for breaches of due diligence obligations for the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing

  FMA

  August 20, 2026

  The Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) has imposed an additional fine of EUR 45,000 against Kurant GmbH. The proceedings were concluded in an accelerated manner pursuant to Article 22 para. 2b of the Financial Market Authority Act (FMABG; Finanzmarktaufsichtsbehördengesetz). The reason for the fine is due to breaches of the Financial Markets Anti-Money Laundering Act (FM-GwG; Finanzmarkt-Geldwäsche-Gesetz). The breaches specifically relate to policies and procedures for the application of customer due diligence obligations when conducting occasional transaction and where suspicion exists or there is a justified reason to assume that customers belong to a terrorist organisation or that customers are objectively involved in transactions for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing. The penal order is final.

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  Scam alert related to banks

  HKMA

  August 20, 2026

  The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to the press release issued by the bank listed below relating to fraudulent websites, internet banking login screens, phishing emails or other scams, which has been reported to the HKMA.  Hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.  

  Bank	Type of Scam
  Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd.	Fraudulent website

   

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  READOUT: FinCEN Holds Engagement to Eliminate Hospice Fraud in California

  FinCEN

  August 19, 2026

  LOS ANGELES — On August 17, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) convened law enforcement and financial institutions for an engagement on health care benefits fraud, including the exploitation of hospice care services. Participants discussed new and emerging health care fraud schemes targeting federal and state health insurance programs, associated financial typologies and red flag indicators, and opportunities to boost awareness around hospice care fraud. Additionally, FinCEN held a training session for law enforcement on August 18 on how to use Bank Secrecy Act data to combat fraud. These engagements build on FinCEN’s work to counter fraud in partnership with the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.