FBI Issues Warning Against Non-Compliant Crypto Money Services

by

As someone who values the security and legality of my financial transactions, I strongly agree with the FBI’s warning against using non-compliant cryptocurrency money-transmitting services. The risks associated with these platforms are not worth taking, especially when there are registered and compliant alternatives available.

The FBI issues a caution to the general population: Steer clear of unregistered cryptocurrency platforms functioning as Money Services Businesses (MSBs) under the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) in the US.

Using non-compliant platforms carries both legal and financial risks. Primarily, these risks involve platforms that disregard Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations and Know Your Customer (KYC) guidelines.

Legal and Financial Risks Highlighted

According to the FBI’s declaration, it’s crucial to ascertain if any cryptocurrency service provider is duly registered. Unregistered services can lead to significant complications, especially during law enforcement raids on these platforms. Users of such unregistered services risk losing access to their funds if these platforms are taken down due to illegal activities. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has created a tool that enables verification of whether a crypto business holds the necessary legal registration as a Money Services Business (MSB).

Recent law enforcement actions have primarily targeted unregistered cryptocurrency transfer platforms, leading to monetary complications for clients whose funds were commingled with the ill-gotten gains.

I’ve analyzed a recent case where the FBI, in conjunction with Tether, managed to recover $1.4 million worth of USDT, which had been stolen through exploits specifically targeting the elderly population. In this instance, fraudulent customer support ads were used as bait to lure victims into transferring their funds for supposed protection. However, upon doing so, these individuals were left unable to access their own money.

Recommendations for Safe Crypto Services

The FBI advises the general public to steer clear of cryptocurrency platforms that fail to obtain necessary Know Your Customer (KYC) information, including names, addresses, and birthdates. Gathering this data is essential for adhering to Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations and safeguarding the safety of financial transactions.

The FBI advises against conducting cryptocurrency transactions via mobile apps without first verifying their adherence to federal laws. Just because an app is available in official app stores doesn’t automatically mean it complies with legal requirements.

Verification Tools and Resources

For the benefit of the general population, the FBI advises utilizing FinCEN’s registration verification tool to ensure that any cryptocurrency transaction service adheres to federal regulations. Services that are compliant and listed in FinCEN’s database consist of Coinbase and Kraken (Payward Financial Inc).

Using this tool allows users to verify the legitimacy and adherence to regulations of their selected platforms, reducing the risk of engaging with unlicensed entities.

Stripe To Bring Back Crypto Payments With USDC On Solana

Read More

2024-04-26 00:49