Financial Investigations
Financial Investigations
Topics Covered:
- Money Laundering Overview
- Financial Institutions & Bank Secrecy Act
- FINCEN Oversight & Compliance
- Traditional Money Laundering Activities
- Establishing Shell Companies
- Smurfing Activities
- Trade-based Money Laundering
- Digital Financial Services
- Cryptocurrency Regulations
- Investigative Analysis Tools
- In-depth Case Studies
Course Overview:
This Money Laundering & Digital Payment Methods course is designed to equip law enforcement officers with essential skills to detect, investigate, and dismantle money laundering operations tied to drug trafficking. Participants will gain an in-depth understanding of the financial processes that support criminal organizations, and the methods used to launder illicit proceeds. Through a combination of theoretical insights and practical exercises, officers will explore how to identify fraudulent business practices and conduct financial interviews aimed at uncovering hidden assets.
The course will cover the different stages of money laundering, from placement to integration, as well as various techniques employed by drug trafficking organizations to conceal proceeds from illegal activities. Officers will learn about indirect methods of accounting to trace illicit funds and how to apply financial search warrants to seize criminal assets. Additionally, participants will examine case studies of notable money laundering operations, both domestic and international, with a special focus on modern-day digital payment systems like Venmo, PayPal, Cash App, and Zelle, which are increasingly used by criminals to evade detection.
By the end of the course, law enforcement officers will have practical knowledge of how to conduct financial investigations, work with multi-agency teams, and employ tactical methods for gathering and analyzing financial evidence. The interactive exercises and case studies will ensure that participants leave with real-world skills to counter the sophisticated money laundering operations that fuel drug trafficking organizations.