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Welcome to the Wrap-Up of The Assembly Hollywood – your summary of the event's top news and talking points. Check out the slideshow below and click or swipe to view the next item. 💡 Share your views in the comments below. 👉 Sweeping Transformation: The First Major Update to Program Priorities in Five Years 👉 Recent Rise in Scams Leaving Traditional Banks at Risk 👉 New U.S. Priorities Redefine AFC Strategies Across Various Fields 👉 Too Big to Sanction? China’s Wealth and Capacity Test the Limits of Pressure 👉 Clear Chains, Cloudy Risks: Crypto’s Transparency Is No Substitute for Vigilance 👉 Heightened Risk of Forced Labor Practices During FIFA World Cup in 2026 Looking for more insights? Have a look at page to read the full week’s coverage. Tigran Gambaryan,Andy Greenberg, Justine Walker, Polaris (formerly Polaris Project) #ACAMSAssembly

Still wrapping your head around AI? Now get ready for quantum technology! 💥 The UK government is investing £121M in quantum tech to fight crime, fraud, and money laundering. It is a technology that uses the universe’s smallest particles to build ultra-powerful computers and sensors. Craig Timm comments that while this is still super early days, it is very exciting! Quantum tech is already being used to spot subtle fraud. The UK National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) is working with HSBC to detect money laundering. If you understand quantum tech, or know how else it is being used in AFC, let us know in the comments, we’d love to learn from you!

What is the most effective way of establishing a partnership for SAR optimization between law enforcement and financial institutions? Steve Overton, Jane Bell - CAMS, CGSS, CFE Please leave your response in the comments section below.

Asking all AFC professionals: What elements of the SAR narrative are most impactful in your partnerships with law enforcement? Steve Overton, Jane Bell - CAMS, CGSS, CFE Please leave your response in the comments section below.

🎉 Exciting news!🎉 We are thrilled to announce the 30 successful recipients of the CAFS Scholarship! This global initiative empowers professionals returning from a career break of 12+ months with advanced skills to combat fraud through the CAFS Certification. Congratulation to the winners and welcome to ACAMS global community of 115k+ professionals dedicated to combat financial crime! Read about the scholarship winners and global panel of judges here 👉https://bit.ly/40KMXqr Richard H Harvey Jr,SUDHIR KONIKAT,Rachael T.,Wendy Ward,Erin West, Sarah Gillis, Shilpa Arora, Monica L. B.

Thank you to the unstoppable #ACAMSCommunity for making The Assembly Hollywood an unforgettable gathering of purpose, progress, and bold ideas. Together, we: 🔹 Uncovered how to better disrupt transnational crime networks 🔹 Shared real-time intelligence and on-the-ground insights 🔹 Exposed emerging threats before they escalate 🔹 Reframed the impact we make every single day 🔹 And we had some fun doing it! Seeing this community’s impact, and knowing how much important work is yet to come is why The Assembly by ACAMS exists. When we come together to protect our financial and economic security; we can win. To every speaker, sponsor, exhibitor, and attendee –– we’re honored you joined us to build a better future together. #ACAMSAssembly

Day 2 at The Assembly Hollywood: What you missed, what we learned, and what’s next… ⬇️ Today we were reminded of how every AFC professional has a duty to keep up with the pace of change, as it is our collective responsibility to safeguard the integrity of the global financial system. The tone was set early with a 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗜 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 and how its usage is shifting from novelty to necessity, thanks to its ability to finally bring us over the effectiveness hump. Rather than speculate on future capabilities, speakers focused on the real-world implications of models already at play. We explored how compliance professionals can overcome challenges with the use of AI, since the U.S. ranked last in AI adoption amongst other regions, according to our Global Threats Report findings. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗲—an energetic clash of opinions, sprinkled with playful banter, that questioned assumptions around high-risk customer classifications and what lies ahead with a new administration as well as the divide between different FIs and their risk profiles. An important point arose: 𝗪𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘀. This led us to our afternoon sessions, including one on insider fraud, reminding us that sometimes the threat comes from within. Nurturing strong compliance cultures, proactiveness, and vigilance is just as crucial as having a robust tech stack. But most importantly: 𝗧𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲𝘀, 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗱. As conversations spilled out into corridors and continued in our structured networking sessions—including dedicated spaces for women in AFC and professionals from LATAM and the Caribbean—the takeaway was clear: Our ability to protect the financial system improves when every voice is heard, and various perspectives have a seat at the table. ✨Today’s greatest insight: ✨ 𝗪𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗶𝗻𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺. Now, our attendees will enjoy the evening’s networking reception and will get ready for our closing day tomorrow, where we’ll discuss much more, including safety during the FIFA World Cup (you read that right), geopolitics, and breaking news. 𝗧𝗟;𝗗𝗥: AI = very useful. U.S. = Falling behind with AI. Risks to consider = Inside your org and outside. Empowering employees = better culture. #ACAMSAssembly

What happens when you bust the myth that crypto grants anonymity? Andy Greenberg took the stage at #ACAMSAssembly to tell his story about learning the answer. Like many, he once believed Bitcoin would fuel a wave of untraceable criminal activity. And it did... at first. But over years of investigations he uncovered this: 𝗕𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗶𝗻’𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗹𝗮𝘄 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘁. A handful of early investigators—including IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) agent Tigran Gambaryan, who spoke at the event yesterday—began using crypto tracing to dismantle some of the largest cybercrime operations in history. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝟮𝟯 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝟯𝟯𝟳 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗶𝘇𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗨.𝗦. 𝗹𝗮𝘄 𝗲𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆. Thanks to those efforts the game has changed. But some challenges remain: Billions stolen by North Korean hackers, the rise of ransomware gangs in non-extradition countries, and the imperfect justice of high-profile cases like Ross Ulbricht. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗰𝗿𝘆𝗽𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗱𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆’𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲. They know the tools of financial crime prevention are working and improving. And for our community, that is a reason to stay vigilant and stay inspired. As a senior writer at WiRED, Andy is bringing attention to this evolution, and how investigators can fight financial crime using this information. Dive deeper into this story in his new book: Tracers in the Dark.

BREAKING: The supreme court of the European Union has ruled that Malta’s policy of doling out “golden passports” to wealthy investors breaches EU law, in a major victory for the European Commission, the bloc’s executive branch. Read more, on ACAMS moneylaundering.com, here: https://lnkd.in/g2PEnZpn Pictured: The Court of Justice of the EU, by sprklg, licensed under CC BY 2.0. https://lnkd.in/gdMDpJjr #goldenvisa #corruption #moneylaundering #EU #EULaw #AML

The #ACAMSAssembly Hollywood is back! Our first flagship event of 2025 kicked off today. Catch some highlights below:   🌍 Sanctions in a new U.S. administration: As the U.S. enters a new political chapter, global sanctions enforcement is evolving. Attendees heard where foreign policy and compliance intersect—directly from those driving the shift. Michael Cass-Antony reminded us that "Ignorance is not a defense; you must stay clear about the guidance." 📜 Regulators on the record: With insights from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Federal Reserve Board, attendees gained clarity on upcoming priorities. Speakers covered BSA/AML enforcement trends, highlighting staffing challenges, board oversight, third-party risk, and the need for programs to match institutional growth. They also stressed managing insider threats, adapting to technology changes, and noted the regulatory encouragement—but not requirement—for banks to adopt advanced technologies like AI. 🌐 A tangled web of underground banking: A spotlight on Chinese Money Laundering Organizations (CMLOs) revealed their global impact, from “capital flight” to cartel-linked fentanyl trafficking. Our panel discussed how CMLOs enable currency exchanges of dirty money, and how they exploit the cracks of the Chinese financial system. 🧩 Crypto crime, decoded: A gripping DHS case study, presented by Jason S. Samuels, broke down a father-son conspiracy that exploited gaps in the crypto ecosystem—highlighting why KYC is more than just a checkbox. We got to see the ins and outs of the scams, but most importantly, of the investigation that followed… 🤝 Tech companies join the fight: From scam detection to fraud policy, we explored how information sharing and better public awareness are essential to stay ahead of threat actors moving faster than ever. Financial institutions can’t do it alone! Today’s biggest learning? Standing still means falling behind.    And these on-stage conversations are just the prompts for the real magic of the event: the conversations happening between attendees, as they compare experiences, exchange notes, and make connections. Tomorrow, we continue. For now, take a look at some of the highlights from Day 1 📸