Moody’s Talks: KYC Decoded

Terrorism is not a static threat—it’s evolving in complexity and reach, demanding new ways of thinking and acting to counter it. Staying ahead means knowing what to look for and equipping the intelligence and security community with the insights needed to act decisively in an unpredictable world. In this third installment of the All-Source miniseries, we’re bringing together two leading voices on counterterrorism: Russ Travers, Retired Senior Intelligence Executive and National Security Official, and Jason Lee, Industry Practice Lead at Moody’s. Together, they’ll help us dig into some of the most pressing questions shaping today’s global security environment: How has terrorism evolved over the decades, and what does this reveal about the future of global security?  What distinguishes foreign terrorism from domestic terrorism, and how do these differences shape the way we approach prevention and response? Should drug trafficking organizations be classified as terrorist groups? Where do terrorist groups operate in less obvious spaces, and what can uncovering these hidden networks teach us about their strategies and vulnerabilities? In an age of overwhelming data, how can intelligence agencies separate actionable insights from noise to stay one step ahead of emerging threats? What advanced tools and capabilities should counterintelligence teams possess to effectively dismantle complex, adaptive networks of terrorism? For further information, check out the resources below:  War on the RocksTerrorism 360°To learn more about Moody’s please visit our website or get in touch we would love to hear from you. 

In a world increasingly defined by rapid information flow, interconnected risks, and complex decision-making, intelligence analysis has never been more critical—or challenging. In this second installment of our All Source miniseries, we are joined by Lieutenant General Guy Swan, U.S. Army (Retired) and President of Swan and Associates, LLC and Jason Lee, Industry Practice Lead at Moody’s who explore how the skills and insights gained from leveraging intelligence in military decision making can be applied to private sector initiatives. Their discussion answers questions like: How can leaders prioritize decisions and address bias when dealing with overwhelming amounts data?What can the military and private sector teach each other about decision-making?How can Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) be leveraged in military and financial contexts?What strategies help organizations manage exponential and interconnected risks to ensure their plans are resilient to real-world challenges?How can AI and technology improve intelligence analysis while maintaining human judgment?Why do cultural differences and diversity of thought matter in intelligence analysis?For further information, check out the resources below: Department of Defense OSINT StrategyDepartment of Homeland Security websiteTo learn more about Moody’s please visit our website or get in touch; we would love to hear from you. 

Could your company be the next target for corporate espionage, where trade secrets and competitive advantages hang in the balance? As corporate spies evolve their methods to outpace defenses, the risks have never been greater.  In this gripping first episode of our All Source series, we’re joined by Michael Orlando, Senior Director of Global Security at Micron Technology, and Jason Lee, Industry Practice Lead at Moody’s, for an eye-opening exploration of the covert world of corporate espionage. Together, they peel back the layers of this hidden threats, diving into critical questions like: Why is corporate espionage a growing risk in today’s interconnected world? What signals might indicate your organization is being targeted? What drives bad actors to exploit companies, and how are their methods becoming more sophisticated? How are tools like OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) being used to investigate and combat espionage? How are governments and regulators tackling this issue?How will emerging technologies like AI reshape the future of corporate intelligence and defense? If you’re interested in learning more, check out the resources below: Federal Bureau of InvestigationThe National Counterintelligence and Security CenterU.S. Department of Defense Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security AgencyTo learn more about Moody’s please visit our website or get in touch; we would love to hear from you. 

Would you rather spend money recovering from a fraud-related attack or building an anti-fraud strategy? Organizations who become victims of fraud often find themselves paying enormous sums of money, managing severe reputational damage, and navigating uncertainties on how to better prepare for the future.In this episode of KYC Decoded we welcome Chen Zamir, fraud strategy advisor and founder of the consultancy Native[risk].  Chen shares his deep expertise on the topic of fraud with host Alex Pillow, covering ideas like:Transforming fraud strategy towards an organization's growth engineHow to discuss anti-fraud return on investmentAnti-fraud performance indicatorsHow senior executives can better engage with their fraud teamsWhat anti-fraud vendors should considerTo learn more from Chen, subscribe to his weekly newsletter, The Saturday Fraud Strategist.Find out how you can transform risk management across your organization with Moody’s Maxsight™ unified risk platform and feel free to get in touch; we would love to hear from you.

Australia recently passed an amended anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) bill that will soon include Tranche 2 entities in its regulatory regime. The result? Approximately 100,000 new entities under its scope. Regulating non-financial entities is not a new undertaking, as we’ve seen in countries like the UK, Singapore, and United Arab Emirates. Crucial to the success of the regime and overall client experience will be how Australian firms adopt the best practices shown by firms in other parts of the world, while ensuring they account for the nuances of their domestic market.In this episode of KYC Decoded, risk advisory lawyer, Jeremy Moller, from Norton Rose Fulbright and Qing Liu, Moody's Senior Director of Compliance & Third Party Risk in Australia, sit down with host Alex Pillow to discuss what the anticipated changes mean for Tranche 2 obliged entities and the future of compliance in Australia.Key topics:Introduction of the Tranche 2 regulationsChallenges and opportunities for firms implementing the reformsInternational comparisons of similar regimes, and opportunities for harmonizing regulationsAdditional resources:Register for Moody’s in-person Sydney event on April 3 – the event features a blend of plenary and breakout sessions led by industry peers and Moody’s financial crime practice lead.Law Council of Australia: AML/CTF Guidance and Vulnerabilities AnalysisLaw Society of New South Wales AML/CTF HubInformation on AUSTRAC’s AML/CTF ReformNorton Rose Fulbright’s Tranche 2 and AML/CTF Reforms HubVisit our website and get in touch to learn more – we would love to hear from you.

We find ourselves 3 years out from the Russia/Ukraine war, and the sanctions climate continues to evolve. From changing global politicians to sanctions regulations and enforcements to evasion tactics, it is imperative compliance professionals stay alive to risks, and the consequences of not doing so.  In this episode of KYC Decoded, we are pleased to welcome Moody’s Industry Practice Lead, Hera Smith, an expert on sanctions and AML. In this brief, informative conversation with host, Alex Pillow, Hera walks us through how sanctions have changed in the past year, the current sanctions ecosystem, and what to look for in 2025. They explore:Why sanctions are such a commonly used geopolitical tacticHow changing political leaders globally can impact sanctions across jurisdictionsThe financial risks of not adhering to sanctions complianceScalable, automated understanding of current export controlsHow corporations and banks have adjusted staffing to keep up with the regulationsWhere organizations should start when beefing up their sanctions risk teamsIf you would like to find out more, please check out the following resources:A new frontier in sanctions awareness and compliance whitepaperAre you ready for reporting on outgoing transfers involving Russian entities?Sanctions crisis management: preparing for potential changeWe also welcome you to visit our website or get in touch to discuss sanctions; we would love to hear from you. 

An exponential growth in data has coincided with the era of exponential risk - what does this mean for anti-financial crime and risk professionals? With ever increasing amounts of unstructured data and information at their fingertips, how can professional investigators implement sophisticated open-source intelligence (OSINT) investigations to make informed decisions?In this episode of KYC Decoded, we welcome the CEO of Blackdot Solutions and former forensic investigator, Stuart Clarke. Stuart breaks down what is needed for high-functioning OSINT investigations in an enlightening conversation with host, Alex Pillow. Together they explore questions like:How do we extract real insights from unstructured data?What is the methodology for running an investigation?How can leaders deploy the right balance of data, technology, and human investigators, when conducting OSINT investigations?What makes OSINT investigations difficult for practitioners  in the private sector vs public sector?What is the impact of advanced OSINT?How much of an OSINT investigation can (and should) be automated?What are the legal and ethical guardrails around the use of open source data?If you are keen to learn more, check out the resources below:Blackdot Solutions, The OSINT handbookMoody’s Maxsight™ InvestigationsPlease also visit our website and get in touch; we would love to hear from you.

Nick Reed, Chief Product Officer at Moody's Corporation, shares his 25 years of expertise in risk and technology. He discusses how generative AI can revolutionize traditional risk management by democratizing data access and transforming workflows. The conversation highlights the shift from reactive to predictive approaches in the financial sector. Reed emphasizes the importance of reliable data for effective AI integration and explores the challenges posed by synthetic identities in credit evaluations. Expect a future where risk professionals focus on strategic insights instead of monotonous tasks.

Laurie Giddens, a researcher and Assistant Professor at the University of North Texas, dives into innovative strategies to combat human trafficking using technology. She discusses the potential of data systems in detecting and disrupting trafficking within the travel industry. Giddens emphasizes the importance of collaboration between airlines and airports and the need for a united effort in data collection. She highlights how feedback loops can enhance interventions, and how analyzing internet data can transform raw insights into actionable information.

The cat and mouse game of criminals vs. regulators and compliance teams can feel intense, and the stakes are high. With advanced AI and deep learning technologies like deepfake, fraudulent activity is easier, cheaper, and more sophisticated than ever before. However, the same advancement in tools and technologies is exactly what’s needed to fight back, and even get ahead.In this episode of KYC Decoded, we are happy to share the mic with deepfake experts David Thomas, Head of Product - Global Documents & Biometrics at GBG, and Paul Warren-Tape, Head of Risk and Compliance at IDVerse. Their gripping conversation with host Alex Pillow explores questions like:What are deepfakes and how are they created?What are the far-reaching consequences of using deepfake technologies for nefarious activity, and who are the victims?How do we know what to trust when we can’t rely on our eyes and ears alone?What controls and technologies are needed in the identification space?Who is leading the way in getting ahead of fraudsters?How can we use powerful technology ethically and responsibly?Please listen to the episode wherever you get your podcasts, and if you are curious to learn more, check out the recommended resources below:Coded Bias documentaryGartner report: Emerging Tech: Combating Deepfakes, Deception and Disinformation in Multimedia ContentIDVerse report: The Truth About Identity and InclusionThe Social Dilemma documentaryGBG resources and insights libraryNational Institute for Science and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity FrameworkIf you would like to chat with Moody's about mitigating financial crime risk in your organization, please visit our website and get in touch. We would love to hear from you.