The Top 10  Most Difficult Countries for Identity Verification

The Top 10  Most Difficult Countries for Identity Verification

Download Report

    n-img-roi-cross

    Before You Go, Schedule Your Free Demo Today

    Valid Invalid number


    Note: Fields marked with an asterisk(*) are mandatory.

    n-exit-img-roi-cross

    Thank you for your demo request

    We appreciate your interest and look forward to discussing how our solution can meet your needs. Expect to hear from us shortly with scheduling details.

    Close

    ca

    51.222.253.17

    Shufti’s AML Screening Solution – How to Comply with Germany’s AML Regulations

    germany aml regulation

    The stability of the global economy is at risk pertaining to the rapidly growing issues of money laundering and other forms of financial crime. Around €100 billion in laundered money is moved around the German economy annually. AML Regulations have been in place for a very long time to combat money laundering. 

    These started out with the regulations by the Paris-based global watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in the 1990s, but they have since changed and been implemented by numerous nations. Germany is a member of the EU and also abides by the Anti-Money Laundering Directives (AMLDs) of the European Parliament, which are codified in German law as the Geldwäschegesetz (GWG).

    Germany’s BaFin and the GWG Act 

    BaFin is the regulatory organisation in Germany responsible for monitoring and enforcing the compliance of financial institutions with KYC/AML laws. Despite the fact that AML compliance is required by law, institutions should follow compliance guidelines for a variety of key reasons. Following the rules enables safeguards banks, FinTech firms, and their clients from harm and is likely to improve the reputation and reliability of the business in the process.

    After being first adopted in 1991, the AMLD legislation has undergone a number of amendments, each of which has increased regulation and coverage in addition to addressing changes in criminal behaviour and technological advancements. As with previous revisions, the most recent 5AMLD and 6AMLD laws were implemented in 2020 and 2021 and made notable advancements, including a stronger emphasis on Politically Exposed Person (PEP) screening and sources of money, while fostering consistency and understanding throughout the EU. 

    The GWG Act was revised numerous times in Germany to accommodate amendments to the AMLD rules, most recently to match the new standards for enforcement and punishment under 6AMLD. The Federal Financial Services Authority, often known as BaFin (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht), is a regulatory agency in Germany that reports to the Ministry of Finance and has a head chosen by the Federal Government. Apart from overseeing KYC/AML compliance measures, BaFin is also in charge of licencing financial institutions, regulating audits and financial statements, enforcing financial institutions’ fines, and defending consumers.

    Germany AML Compliance Regime 

    GWG, which oversees all facets of AML and KYC legal compliance, implements AML law in Germany. These include:

    • Money laundering and AML definitions, activities, and required parties
    • Requirements for monitoring, risk analysis, and customer due diligence
    • Requirements for reporting and escalating suspicious activities
    • the participation of Germany’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), which is in charge of investigating and documenting questionable transactions 
    • Regulation and criminal responsibility

    The technological implementation of AML procedures is one area where country-specific legislation can differ greatly. AML requirements are governed by the AMLD, but neither document specifies the technologies to be used nor the amount of automation that is allowed. By only allowing automated verification via video review, which necessitates a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) and a minor bank transfer as part of onboarding, BaFin adopts a more cautious approach than other regulators, such as the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority.

    How Financial Institutions Can Implement KYC/AML Checks

    The eKYC procedures must follow regulatory rules and include the three essential components listed above because the majority of new banking customers in Germany are onboarded and confirmed online. Gathering identification documents and ensuring their legality by ensuring the customer’s identity matches that of the document are necessary for identity verification and client onboarding. Online, this is occurring more frequently in completely or partially automated processes.

    CDD is necessary for all new business relationships (whether this is a person or business). It must also be done under a number of scenarios that BaFin lists, such as when a customer’s circumstances change or when there are suspicious or large transactions (over €15,000). More Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) must be carried out and risk assessment systems must be in place when risk is deemed to be high. Following are some of BaFin’s suggestions about EDD causes:

    1. Complex or suspicious transactions, particularly those that are aberrant or seem to have no purpose other than financial ones, or the identification of a client’s or company’s beneficial owner as a PEP. 
    2. Relationships or affiliations with businesses that are based in high-risk areas or those that have been designated as such.

    BaFin specifies a variety of rules for carrying out EDD as necessary. These include expanding inquiries into financing sources and commercial relationships, improving monitoring, and involving senior management in decision-making. German KYC/AML laws differ significantly from those of other nations in a number of important ways. Financial companies operating in Germany must ensure the use of video KYC for identity verification.

    money laundering in germany

    In fact, Germany was among the first nations in 2014 to permit video onboarding. BaFin does not permit the use of AI and biometric identity verification, but other regulators (including the UK) do. However, it is still thought of as the standard in Germany. BaFin has strict standards for video identification procedures, including the need for end-to-end, uninterrupted video identification across encrypted channels in real-time. Additional requirements include lighting requirements, employee identification training, and video quality standards.

    GWG standards further protect the use of bank transfers and KYC/AML measures. When onboarding and validating a new customer, a small bank transfer from a recognised German account must be used as verification support. This makes it simpler to open additional accounts in Germany while maintaining a high degree of protection. Scanning ID cards with NFC Identity cards are frequently used in the Nordic nations, although they are rarely used in the UK. However, all German residents now receive identity cards, which can be used as a verification method in Germany.

    What Shufti Offers

    The GWG Act outlines a risk-based AML strategy that necessitates the creation of a process for identifying and mitigating fraud risks. These procedures must be followed by all concerned personnel and integrated into the organisational infrastructure in financial institutions. BaFin provides guidelines and standards for staff AML training, but it is up to the businesses to choose the most effective training schedule and approach.

    Additionally, procedures must be in place for the internal and external reporting of questionable consumers and transactions. Such instances must be reported to the Financial Intelligence Unit in Germany (FIU). Shufti is a UK-based IDV provider that offers a robust AI-powered AML screening solution for real estate businesses enabling them to remain compliant with industry-specific regulations. Businesses can effortlessly identify suspicious and high-risk customers by cross-checking them against 1700+ watchlists to stay compliant with global due diligence standards. 

    Find out how businesses can comply with Germany’s regulations

    Related Posts

    Blog, Identity & KYC, Online Marketplace

    Age Verification – Does Your Business Need It?

    Several businesses are unaware of the significance that age verification holds for their business...

    Age Verification –  Does Your Business Need It? Explore More

    Blog

    NFC – Building New Grounds for Identity Verification

    Near Field Communication (NFC) is based on the famous RFID technology. In 2002, Nokia was the fir...

    NFC – Building New Grounds for Identity Verification Explore More

    Blog

    The Evolution of Video KYC: Revolutionise the Fintech Industry

    FinTech encompasses financial organisations’ use of computing and communications tools to b...

    The Evolution of Video KYC: Revolutionise the Fintech Industry Explore More

    Blog

    Verifying Donors and Origins of Charitable Funds with Identity Verification

    Like any other financial institution, charity organisations are also equally vulnerable to moneta...

    Verifying Donors and Origins of Charitable Funds with Identity Verification Explore More

    Blog

    AML Compliance – How to Steer Clear of Cryptocurrency Crimes

    Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, and Tether along with thousands of other cryptocurrencies are rising...

    AML Compliance – How to Steer Clear of Cryptocurrency Crimes Explore More

    Blog

    Top 5 Frequently Asked Questions about Biometric Verification

    Identity theft, data breaches, and other crimes are rising in this age of digitisation. A quick r...

    Top 5 Frequently Asked Questions about Biometric Verification Explore More

    Biometric Technology, Blog

    Biometric identification Analysis and Facial Recognition Technology

    Identity verification services might have been the most innovative and effective way to cut down ...

    Biometric identification Analysis and Facial Recognition Technology Explore More

    Blog

    KYC Compliance – Identity Verification for Brokerage Companies & Trading Platforms

    Online trading platforms provide businesses with the convenience to keep an eye on financial mark...

    KYC Compliance – Identity Verification for Brokerage Companies & Trading Platforms Explore More

    Blog

    Gold Industry and Prevailing Financial Crimes – How Shufti’s AML Screening Can Help

    Using gold for financial crimes has a long history and in many countries, jewellery is not only c...

    Gold Industry and Prevailing Financial Crimes – How Shufti’s AML Screening Can Help Explore More

    Blog

    UAE’s Targeted Financial Sanctions (TFS) – How Shufti Can Help Ensure AML Compliance

    Money laundering has always remained a huge challenge for global economies, and all the major jur...

    UAE’s Targeted Financial Sanctions (TFS) – How Shufti Can Help Ensure AML Compliance Explore More

    Blog

    The EU’s New AML Proposal, What’s in Store?

    To strengthen the EU’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) ...

    The EU’s New AML Proposal, What’s in Store? Explore More

    Blog, Online Marketplace

    7 Identity theft protection practices for Business and Recuriters

    Identity theft is now no more a cause of concern for the individual users only as corporations an...

    7 Identity theft protection practices for Business and Recuriters Explore More

    Blog, Business Technology, Identity & KYC

    The Reason Why Companies Painstakingly Screen Customers

    Remote identity Proofing:  generally believe that more customers bring more revenue. But that is ...

    The Reason Why Companies Painstakingly Screen Customers Explore More

    Blog

    Stablecoin Market and the Role of AML in Safeguarding Digital Finance

    With the rapid expansion of the cryptocurrency market, stablecoins have swiftly emerged as a popu...

    Stablecoin Market and the Role of AML in Safeguarding Digital Finance Explore More

    Blog

    Third-party Due Diligence – Red Flags, Regulations and 5 Ways to Enhance It

    The majority of businesses depend upon a third-party in one way or the other. Contractors, suppli...

    Third-party Due Diligence – Red Flags, Regulations and 5 Ways to Enhance It Explore More

    Blog

    Optical Character Recognition (OCR) | Pushing the Boundaries of Data Extraction

    There is a surging demand for swift and remote identity verification methods in our digital world...

    Optical Character Recognition (OCR) | Pushing the Boundaries of Data Extraction Explore More

    Artificial Intelligence, Blog

    How Augmented Intelligence is next stop in ID Verification Services?

    Augmented intelligence (AI), also referred to as intelligence augmentation (IA) and cognitive aug...

    How Augmented Intelligence is next stop in ID Verification Services? Explore More

    Blog

    Elevating Document Verification with OCR in 2024 | Data Extraction in Real-Time

    The Optical Character Recognition (OCR) market was valued at US$15 billion in 2019 and is expecte...

    Elevating Document Verification with OCR in 2024 | Data Extraction in Real-Time Explore More

    Blog

    DoorDash Falls in the pit of Data Breach – Affects 4.9 Million Users

    Security breaches are increasing in number with every passing day. This keeps on happening. It wo...

    DoorDash Falls in the pit of Data Breach – Affects 4.9 Million Users Explore More

    Blog

    Securing Transactions and Operations with Biometric Consent Verification in Digital Banking

    In the modern digital world, secure business operations are crucial.  The focus on maintaining se...

    Securing Transactions and Operations with Biometric Consent Verification in Digital Banking Explore More

    Blog

    The need for identity verification solutions spiking in demand

    At present, we are living in a digital world. Everyone is on the internet which is an anonymous s...

    The need for identity verification solutions spiking in demand Explore More

    Blog

    Shufti’s Journey Builder: Designing Identity Verification Made Simple 

    As financial regulations around the world become more complex and ever changing, businesses like ...

    Shufti’s Journey Builder: Designing Identity Verification Made Simple  Explore More

    Blog, Financial Crime / AML, Fraud Prevention, Identity & KYC

    Facial Recognition: Worries About the Use of Synthetic Media

    In 2019, 4.4 billion internet users were connected to the internet worldwide, a rise of 9% from l...

    Facial Recognition: Worries About the Use of Synthetic Media Explore More

    Blog

    FATF’s Stance on Digitizing FIUs and Adopting A Risk-Based Approach for VAs

    The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is tirelessly working to guide Financial Intelligence Unit...

    FATF’s Stance on Digitizing FIUs and Adopting A Risk-Based Approach for VAs Explore More

    Blog

    Reshaping the Travel Industry with NFC Verification – How Shufti Can Help

    With emerging technologies and the increasing use of digital services, the travel industry has be...

    Reshaping the Travel Industry with NFC Verification – How Shufti Can Help Explore More

    Blog

    Phishing Attacks and the Role of Two-Factor Authentication

    In today’s digital world, almost everything we do is on the internet, be it for official purposes...

    Phishing Attacks and the Role of Two-Factor Authentication Explore More

    Blog

    Establishing a KYC/AML Compliance Regime for the FinTech Sector

    Today, more than 60% of the financial institutions in the market consider Fintech startups to be ...

    Establishing a KYC/AML Compliance Regime for the FinTech Sector Explore More

    Blog, Online Marketplace

    Why age verification matters to online businesses?

    Identity verification services are fast becoming a business norm for companies that are enthusias...

    Blog

    The Definitive Guide to Anti-Money Laundering & Countering of Terrorist Financing

    In this modern globalized era, money launderers, terrorist financiers and other criminal elements...

    The Definitive Guide to Anti-Money Laundering & Countering of Terrorist Financing Explore More

    Blog

    Enhanced Due Diligence: Identifying High-Risk Customers in the Banking Sector

    The digitisation of our world and economies have introduced greater ease and efficiency to our pr...

    Enhanced Due Diligence: Identifying High-Risk Customers in the Banking Sector Explore More

    Blog, Online Marketplace

    Industrial significance of KYC / AML Compliance in 2019

    As the type and amount of fraudulent activities have increased over the years, governments and re...

    Industrial significance of KYC / AML Compliance in 2019 Explore More

    Blog

    Securing Mobility as a Service (MaaS) with Shufti’s Digital Identity Verification Solution

    The transport industry is on the verge of significant disruption, with new emerging technologies,...

    Securing Mobility as a Service (MaaS) with Shufti’s Digital Identity Verification Solution Explore More

    Blog

    Combating 8 Prevalent Biometric Fraud Through a Single AI Solution

    Considering how criminals are attempting new strategies to “steal a face”, companies are no longe...

    Combating 8 Prevalent Biometric Fraud Through a Single AI Solution Explore More

    Blog

    Transaction Monitoring in 2023 | A Comprehensive Guide

    Scammers are searching for businesses to exploit, and financial firms with loopholes provide them...

    Transaction Monitoring in 2023 | A Comprehensive Guide Explore More

    Blog

    Biometrics technology a key to key-free world

    In 2016, the biometric market in the United States reached $3.52 billion U.S Dollars and is expec...

    Biometrics technology a key to key-free world Explore More

    Blog

    Addressing Regulatory Compliance in Online Gambling with Effective AML Screening

    The internet is a key risk element for gambling because it gives the user a sense of obscurity, t...

    Addressing Regulatory Compliance in Online Gambling with Effective AML Screening Explore More

    Blog

    E-Signature Verification | Why Businesses Should Consider Adopting It

    Physical paperwork is a thing of the past now. It is a time and labour-intensive task that requir...

    E-Signature Verification | Why Businesses Should Consider Adopting It Explore More

    Blog

    Optical Character Recognition (OCR) | Pushing the Boundaries of Data Extraction

    There is a surging demand for swift and remote identity verification methods in our digital world...

    Optical Character Recognition (OCR) | Pushing the Boundaries of Data Extraction Explore More

    Blog

    Know Your Investor (KYI) – Onboarding the Right Investors for Your Business

    In today’s tech-driven world, financial operations are being transformed by emerging digital solu...

    Know Your Investor (KYI) – Onboarding the Right Investors for Your Business Explore More

    Blog

    AML Compliance – Eliminating Financial Crimes in FinTech Firms

    The FinTech industry is growing rapidly across various sectors with investments and large-scale a...

    AML Compliance – Eliminating Financial Crimes in FinTech Firms Explore More

    Blog

    NFC Verification – Securing Large-scale Events from Frauds

    Large-scale events are a great way for imposters to execute their illicit plans. Data breaches, m...

    NFC Verification – Securing Large-scale Events from Frauds Explore More

    Blog

    Elevating Payment Security: The Crucial Role of Biometric Authentication

    There has been a considerable rise in digital payment methods in recent years. People now prefer ...

    Elevating Payment Security: The Crucial Role of Biometric Authentication Explore More

    Blog, Identity & KYC

    Common Online Scams You Need to Know About

    The explosion of the internet and the world moving towards the fourth industrial revolution have ...

    Common Online Scams You Need to Know About Explore More

    Blog

    AML Verification Services: Fighting Back Financial Crimes in 2023

    The Covid-19 outbreak has increased reliance on eCommerce and digital banking — cultivating a lus...

    AML Verification Services: Fighting Back Financial Crimes in 2023 Explore More

    Blog

    Disruptive Fintech Trends 2020

    Fintech has changed the way consumers access their finances. From mobile payment apps to insuranc...

    Disruptive Fintech Trends 2020 Explore More

    Blog

    5 Key Regulatory Updates for the Banking Sector in 2021

    The pandemic disrupted operations in the banking sector and the criminal activities significantly...

    5 Key Regulatory Updates for the Banking Sector in 2021 Explore More

    Blog

    Securing Digital Payments and Mitigating Financial Crimes Through AML Screening Solutions

    The promise of payments technologies is being realized. Consumers are executing frictionless paym...

    Securing Digital Payments and Mitigating Financial Crimes Through AML Screening Solutions Explore More

    Blog

    AML Screening – Combating Money Laundering in Luxury Vehicle Dealings

    Financial criminals usually look for priceless items like art, antiquities, as well as luxury veh...

    AML Screening – Combating Money Laundering in Luxury Vehicle Dealings Explore More

    Blog

    5 Key Questions About KYC Compliance to Look Out for in 2021

    With the COVID-19 pandemic bringing challenges every day for businesses, the rate of identity fra...

    5 Key Questions About KYC Compliance to Look Out for in 2021 Explore More

    Blog, Online Marketplace

    Social Media and Identity Theft Frauds

    Imagine this: You get up in the morning and like most people; check your email. There you have an...

    Social Media and Identity Theft Frauds Explore More

    Blog

    e-IDV: The Key to Fraud Prevention in FinTech

    After years of enormous growth, investment in the fintech market declined in 2022. Susceptibility...

    e-IDV: The Key to Fraud Prevention in FinTech Explore More

    Blog

    Digital Document verification – an efficacious method of ID card scanning

    Businesses, banks, airports, social media platforms, e-commerce stores all need to be sure of the...

    Digital Document verification – an efficacious method of ID card scanning Explore More

    Blog

    Risk Assessment: Building Trust Among Travellers

    The travel and tourism industry is among the largest in the world. Many countries, such as the UA...

    Risk Assessment: Building Trust Among Travellers Explore More

    Blog

    How Shufti Ensures Gaming Regulatory Compliance with AML Screening for Online Gaming Platforms

    The online gaming sector has revolutionized altogether along with emerging technologies. With adv...

    How Shufti Ensures Gaming Regulatory Compliance with AML Screening for Online Gaming Platforms Explore More

    Blog

    How ID Verification can Help you Boost your Revenue in 2019?

    For years now banks have been using laid back and inconvenient methods for ID verification of cus...

    How ID Verification can Help you Boost your Revenue in 2019? Explore More

    Blog

    5 Best Practices to Combat Identity Fraud on Social Media Platforms

    Social media has demonstrated extraordinary growth in the past decade as a result of improvements...

    5 Best Practices to Combat Identity Fraud on Social Media Platforms Explore More

    Blog

    Top 10 Questions about AML Compliance Answered by the CTO of Shufti

    The regulatory landscape is changing with time and a number of questions are arising. AML complia...

    Top 10 Questions about AML Compliance Answered by the CTO of Shufti Explore More

    Blog

    Know Your Patient (KYP) – the next big thing in health care

    Its high time the hospital industry must think beyond providing just giving medical assistance to...

    Know Your Patient (KYP) – the next big thing in health care Explore More

    Blog

    Combatting Identity Theft with KYC Verification – A Risk-Based Approach in Online Shopping

    The proliferation of online stores has radically transformed how people shop and greatly affected...

    Combatting Identity Theft with KYC Verification – A Risk-Based Approach in Online Shopping Explore More

    Blog

    The Rising Concern of Financial Crimes in the Metaverse – AML Screening as a Solution

    The digital world is evolving at a greater pace than ever before. The Metaverse is considered a d...

    The Rising Concern of Financial Crimes in the Metaverse – AML Screening as a Solution Explore More

    Blog

    Forensic Document Forgery Analysis – A Landmark Approach to Curb Identity Fraud

    With online services picking up pace, cybercriminals are ramping up their  digital attacks and us...

    Forensic Document Forgery Analysis – A Landmark Approach to Curb Identity Fraud Explore More

    Blog

    An inside look at the need for AML in the e-gaming industry

    Data analytics and trends show the penetration of the population into console-based online video ...

    An inside look at the need for AML in the e-gaming industry Explore More

    Blog

    Facial Recognition Kiosks: A Modern Innovation in the Food Industry?

    Background of Technological Advancement Technology is regarded as a new way of thinking or doing ...

    Facial Recognition Kiosks: A Modern Innovation in the Food Industry? Explore More

    Blog, Online Marketplace

    New Rules by the UK Gambling Commission and Their Impact

    The UK Gambling Commission announced new gambling rules earlier this year to make gambling safer ...

    New Rules by the UK Gambling Commission and Their Impact Explore More

    Blog

    6 Ways Identity Verification Will Unlock Digital Transformation in Airlines

    Airlines were particularly negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, and the situation was fu...

    6 Ways Identity Verification Will Unlock Digital Transformation in Airlines Explore More

    Blog

    AML Compliance in the UK’s Financial Sector – What Shufti Offers

    The UK is known in the global financial paradigm for being both a financial hub and the dirty mon...

    AML Compliance in the UK’s Financial Sector – What Shufti Offers Explore More

    Blog

    Biometric Facial Recognition – Combating Identity Fraud with Shufti’s IDV Solution

    Since knowledge-based authentication and passwords were first introduced, security systems in ban...

    Biometric Facial Recognition – Combating Identity Fraud with Shufti’s IDV Solution Explore More

    Blog

    CFT & AML Compliance To Hold Back Financial Crimes

    In this digital era, many factors are greasing the wheel of money laundering. Due to online trans...

    CFT & AML Compliance To Hold Back Financial Crimes Explore More

    Blog, Business Technology, Fraud Prevention

    How Identity Theft Protection Can Increase Your Profit!

    Identity theft protection is something that is not only a concern for ordinary users anymore. Bus...

    How Identity Theft Protection Can Increase Your Profit! Explore More

    Blog

    How Businesses Can Leverage Optical Character Recognition Technology in 2023

    Optical Character Recognition (OCR) has revolutionised how businesses gather, process, and analys...

    How Businesses Can Leverage Optical Character Recognition Technology in 2023 Explore More

    Blog

    KYC/AML Compliance – An Anti-fraud Mechanism for E-wallets

    As more and more countries had to enforce lockdowns because of the pandemic, remote working and d...

    KYC/AML Compliance – An Anti-fraud Mechanism for E-wallets Explore More

    Blog

    How to Create a Wow! Fraud Prevention System with Shufti

    The ever increasing threat of identity fraud skyrocketed when the coronavirus pandemic struck the...

    How to Create a Wow! Fraud Prevention System with Shufti Explore More

    Take the next steps to better security.

    Contact us

    Get in touch with our experts. We'll help you find the perfect solution for your compliance and security needs.

    Contact us

    Request demo

    Get free access to our platform and try our products today.

    Get started