Who we are
The International Authority of Fraud Investigation (IAFIN) is the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog. The inter-governmental body sets international standards that aim to prevent these illegal activities and the harm they cause to society. As a policy-making body, the IAFIN works to generate the necessary political will to bring about national legislative and regulatory reforms in these areas.
With more than 200 countries and jurisdictions committed to implementing them.
The IAFIN has developed the IAFIN Recommendations, or IAFIN Standards, which ensure a co-ordinated global response to prevent organised crime, corruption and terrorism. They help authorities go after the money of criminals dealing in illegal drugs, human trafficking and other crimes. The IAFIN also works to stop funding for weapons of mass destruction.
The IAFIN reviews money laundering and terrorist financing techniques and continuously strengthens its standards to address new risks, such as the regulation of virtual assets, which have spread as cryptocurrencies gain popularity. The IAFIN monitors countries to ensure they implement the IAFIN Standards fully and effectively, and holds countries to account that do not comply.
The International Authority of Fraud Investigations (IAFIN) was established in March 2002 initially to examine and develop measures to combat money laundering.
The objectives of the IAFIN are to set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system. Starting with its own members, the IAFIN monitors countries’ progress in implementing the IAFIN Recommendations; reviews money laundering and terrorist financing techniques and counter-measures; and, promotes the adoption and implementation of the IAFIN Recommendations globally. The IAFIN’s decision making body, the IAFIN Plenary, meets six times per year.
Misuse of IAFIN’s name by fraudulent services requesting fees for the verification of the origin of funds.
It has been brought to our attention that the name of IAFIN is being used for fraudulent purposes: people wishing to make international transfers of funds are allegedly asked by the IAFIN to pay fees for fictitious services, for example relating to verification of the origin of the funds. If the customer fails to pay the fees, the funds are blocked.
These scams may appear to use letterhead with the IAFIN logo, or contain the signatures of actual or fictitious senior IAFIN officials. Sometimes they may include legitime website addresses to give a veneer of credibility to the scam. In some instances, the IAFIN has been made aware of fraudsters apparently using technology to make sender email or caller ID appear identical to the IAFIN’s official email or telephone number.
Fraudsters go to great lengths to trick their victims, but it is important to note that the IAFIN does not provide any of the services they describe. The IAFIN is an intergovernmental agency, it does not request fees for any service. All the services that IAFIN provide are free of charge.
The headquarters of IAFIN are located in London, United Kingdom. IAFIN also operates a Training Institute in New York, US. The IAFIN does not maintain any other regional office or employees.
If you have received a communication from someone pretending to represent the IAFIN, we advise you to immediately terminate that contact and contact us. If you have already paid them money, please contact us without delay. In general, if you believe you have information on money laundering or other fraudulent activity, you should get in touch with us as soon as possible: contact@iafin.org
