Санкционный скрининг
Sanctions Screening
Screening customers, counterparties and transactions against sanctions lists (OFAC, EU, UN, UK) to avoid processing a payment or opening an account for a sanctioned person.
What is Санкционный скрининг (Sanctions Screening)?
Sanctions screening is the automated matching of names, identifiers and addresses against sanctions lists. Its purpose is to prevent transactions with individuals, companies and countries that are subject to restrictions. Screening does not happen at a single stage but across the entire customer lifecycle.
## How it works
At registration, full name, date of birth, country and citizenship are compared. For payments, the sender, recipient, bank and purpose are checked. In crypto, wallet addresses that OFAC includes in its lists are screened. Systems use fuzzy matching because names are spelled differently across alphabets and transliterations.
## False positives
The most common problem is a match with a namesake. Each alert is reviewed manually using additional attributes. Settings that are too lenient let real matches through, while settings that are too strict block legitimate players and hurt deposit conversion.
## Where it applies
In payment systems and acquiring, screening is mandatory at onboarding and for transfers. Crypto exchanges and VASPs check addresses and on-chain transaction history. Online casinos screen players at registration, first deposit and withdrawal, as well as payment providers and their beneficial owners.
## Ownership structure
Sanctions apply not only to the directly named person but also to companies in which that person holds a significant stake or controls management. Under the OFAC 50 percent rule, such companies are also treated as sanctioned. For this reason, screening covers beneficial owners, not just the legal entity's name.
## Common mistakes
FAQ
How does sanctions screening differ from KYC?
KYC answers the question of who the customer is and is performed once during onboarding, with periodic refreshes. Sanctions screening checks the customer and transactions against sanctions lists and runs continuously, each time the lists change or a new transaction occurs.
Do I need to screen crypto wallets?
Yes, if a regulator or company policy requires it. Some sanctions lists include wallet addresses, so incoming and outgoing transfers are checked against them and against on-chain analytics.
What should I do when there is a list match?
Pause the transaction or account, conduct a manual review and verify additional data. If the match is confirmed, funds are frozen and reported to the competent authority as required by the jurisdiction.