Daily GFN Briefing – Financial Crime Trends (19 Nov 2025)

🔍 Executive Summary

Major crypto platforms continue to facilitate billions in illicit flows, signalling the urgency for stronger regulation and monitoring.
Even foundational regimes like director ID checks in the UK are showing sub-par compliance — underscoring the difficulty of operationalising governance controls.
AI-enabled scams, particularly in emerging markets like Indonesia, are morphing rapidly and exposing systemic vulnerabilities.
Cartel-linked laundering through non-traditional venues (e.g., casinos) remains top-of-mind for cross-border enforcement.
Payments infrastructure firms are stepping up — Mastercard’s launch is a bell-wether for private-sector participation in the crime-fighting ecosystem.

🌍 Regional Breakdown

Global — Crypto giants moved billions linked to money launderers, drug traffickers and North Korean hackers

Source: ICIJ
Date: 17 Nov 2025
Topic: Crypto/DeFi crime
The ICIJ traced thousands of transactions from major exchanges that channelled funds for illicit actors including drug-networks and North Korean cyber-hackers.
Link: ICIJ

UK — New UK director ID rules spark concerns over fraud risk

Source: IT Brief
Date: 19 Nov 2025
Topic: AML/KYC
UK’s newly mandated director/PSC/LLP identity checks are off to a weak start (compliance < 15%), increasing the risk of fraud via shell structures or corporate opacity.
Link: IT Brief

Asia-Pacific / Indonesia — Indonesia reports US$465.6m in financial losses to AI scams

Source: TechInAsia
Date: 18 Nov 2025
Topic: Fintech fraud
Victims in Indonesia fell prey to AI deep-fake voice/face scams, resulting in ~US$465.6 million in losses as criminals impersonated family or business contacts to obtain funds.
Link: TechInAsia

North America / Mexico — US sanctions cartel-linked casinos across Mexico

Source: Mexico News Daily
Date: 15 Nov 2025
Topic: Sanctions
The U.S. Treasury, partnering with Mexico, sanctioned 10 casinos tied to the Sinaloa Cartel’s laundering network — illustrating how gambling venues continue to serve as laundering front-channels.
Link: Mexico News Daily

Global — Mastercard launches advanced threat-intelligence platform to fight large-scale payment fraud

Source: Axios
Date: 19 Nov 2025
Topic: Banking/Fintech fraud
Mastercard unveiled a new fraud-prevention platform integrating its 3.5 billion-card global network and advanced cyber-intelligence to block fraud rings before they scale — signalling the escalation of private-sector arms in financial-crime defence.
Link: Axios

📌 Final Notes

Today’s developments reinforce that the compliance challenge isn’t just growing — it’s shifting shape. From deep-fake scams to wholesale laundering through third-party venues, criminals are exploiting weak controls and gaps. As you build your thought-leadership in FinCrime compliance, the narrative has to shift from “we need better controls” to “we need better controls that adapt fast and connect smart”. That means tools, training, culture, and strategic partnerships. Stay ahead. Stay vocal. We’re building this together.