Sanctions Screening
Screening customers, vendors, and beneficial owners against OFAC, EU, UK, and UN lists.
US sanctions are enforced by OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control). Screening at onboarding is table stakes; continuous screening catches list changes after the relationship starts. Missed matches can trigger civil penalties in the millions.
A name match is the start of a review
Screening can identify similar names, but a potential match is not always the same person or entity. Compare available identifiers and the applicable restrictions before deciding how to proceed. Ownership and program-specific restrictions may matter even when a name does not appear directly on one list.
Keep the review reproducible
Record the lists or official information checked, the date, relevant identifiers, reviewer, and decision. Establish how changes are reviewed during the relationship. A one-time search cannot guarantee that a later transaction is permissible, and a third-party screening service’s coverage should be understood before relying on it.
Know when to escalate
Applicable rules depend on jurisdiction, transaction details, and the sanctions program. If a possible match or prohibited activity is identified, pause the relevant decision and obtain appropriate compliance or legal support. Do not assume a missing list match is clearance for every transaction or that a general risk summary provides authorization.
Related terms
See how Scarlet Risk covers Sanctions Screening.
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