What should you do if your firm is hit by ransomware? Choose your own ending to this tale about a clinic, a criminal, and coronavirus to learn the risks and rewards of each choice.
Aaron Nicodemus
Aaron Nicodemus is the Editor-in-Chief of Compliance Week. He previously worked as a reporter for Bloomberg Law and as business editor at the Telegram & Gazette in Worcester, Mass.
Email: aaron.nicodemus@complianceweek.com
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BSA update proposal seeks more data on international transactions
FinCEN and the Federal Reserve Board have proposed lowering the threshold at which financial institutions must collect, retain, and transmit information on overseas transfers under the Bank Secrecy Act.
SEC doubles previous record with $114M whistleblower award
A $114 million whistleblower payout announced Thursday is the highest ever awarded by the Securities and Exchange Commission, more than doubling the previous $50 million record set in June.
‘FinCEN Files’ reaction poll: Corporate culture blocks AML compliance
In the aftermath of the “FinCEN Files” leak, financial industry practitioners polled by Fenergo say changing the system needs to start within their own institutions.
Berkshire Hathaway fined $4.1M for Iran sanctions violations
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control assessed a $4.1 million fine against Berkshire Hathaway for “egregious” violations of sanctions against Iran committed by a subsidiary in Turkey.
Study: Financial crime compliance costs top $42B in U.S./Canada
A new study of financial crime compliance costs found spending by American and Canadian financial institutions is up sharply in 2020, driven in part by the coronavirus pandemic.
What would a Democratic regulatory agenda look like under Biden?
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is no lock to win the presidency on Nov. 3. But it’s worth examining what compliance-related regulatory policies he’d support if he wins.
Split SEC loosens conflict-of-interest rules for independent auditors
The Securities and Exchange Commission has moved forward with relaxing its conflict-of-interest rules for independent auditors by a 3-2 vote.
Merit Medical fined $18M after ignoring CCO’s kickback warnings
The former chief compliance officer for Merit Medical Systems will be paid $2.65 million for his role in uncovering a six-year kickback scheme that paid hospitals and doctors to purchase company products.
SEC ‘pay-to-play’ enforcement surge projected in 2021
More donations in a high-stakes election year means more chances that the Securities and Exchange Commission will pursue investigations related to its often overlooked “pay-to-play” rule.


