2040
Bank Records and Foreign TransactionsFinancial
Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)
|
The Department of the Treasury has designated the Financial Crimes
Enforcement Network (FinCEN) as one of the primary agencies to establish,
oversee and implement policies to prevent and detect money laundering. This
is accomplished in two ways. First, FinCEN uses counter-money laundering
laws such as the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) to require reporting and record
keeping by banks and other financial institutions. This record keeping
preserves a financial trail for investigators to follow as they track
criminals and their assets. The BSA also requires reporting of suspicious
transactions at financial institutions that could trigger investigations.
FinCEN establishes these policies and regulations to deter and detect money
laundering in partnership with the financial community.
Second, FinCEN provides intelligence and analysis for case support
and furthers public understanding of money laundering. FinCEN's work is
concentrated on combining information reported under the BSA with other
government and public information. This information is then disclosed to
law enforcement in the form of intelligence reports which are provided
quickly to FinCEN's customers: federal, state, local and international
investigators and regulators. The intelligence reports help them build
investigations and plan new strategies to combat money laundering.
The initial contact point for participating agencies seeking
tactical assistance is the FinCEN Tactical Response Division. Methods of
transmitting requests to FinCEN included facsimile, mail, phone and
electronic mail, depending on the procedures established by the requesting
agency. A special form entitled "Request for Query/Analysis" has been
designed for submitting requests. These forms can be obtained by contacting
FinCEN at 1-800-SOS-BUCK.
For further information about FinCEN, please contact the Asset
Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section or contact FinCEN directly at:
Department of the Treasury, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, 2070 Chain
Bridge Road, Suite 200, Vienna, VA 22182-2536. Phone: (703) 905-3520.
[cited in USAM 9-79.200] | |