Entity search

When it comes to fincrime, it’s not just about knowing your customer (KYC) - you have to know the businesses (KYB) you deal with as well. Simply put, it’s not always one particular person you need to watch out for, but rather a legal entity fraudsters are hiding behind. 

As part of SEON’s AML tool, the entity search functionality allows you to uncover suspicious businesses, vessels, NGOs and other organizations, adding an extra layer of security to your fraud prevention strategy. Being aware of financial alerts can save you money by avoiding risky actors who conduct financial crimes while also saving on resources by avoiding non-compliance fines.

It is standard practice for companies to be required to run AML checks both for companies and people. Our entity search functionality offers a complete and always up-to-date search engine based on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards for businesses that must comply with numerous international sanctions.

Our database contains data on sanctioned entities, whether individuals or organizations. This information includes their names, country of origin, date and place of birth and reasoning for why they are sanctioned. In addition, we have further relevant information that could be important for assessing a customer's risk and, consequently, mitigating the risk of becoming a non-compliant firm.

Given our global reach, we detect disqualified directors and debarred organizations, persons and entities subject to national warnings and corrupt officials worldwide, making the job of AML compliance officers easier.

SEON’s database also distinguishes between minor and severe financial transgressions in order to focus on issues that pose the greatest risk to our customers. The severity of various instances is regularly assessed.

• Entity-Level Screening via UI: Users can perform detailed sanctions checks on companies and vessels directly from the SEON Admin panel on the Manual Lookup page.
• Accessible Manual Lookup Options: Within the AML Manual Lookup section, users can choose between person and business lookups, making it easier to target searches based on entity type.
• Organized Results by Entity Type: Search results are separated under the Person and Business tabs on the AML page, facilitating quick access to screening results.
• AML Entity API and Fraud API with AML entity screening: Enables you to run queries automatically.
• Monitoring: You can also set up monitoring for entities. You can enable monitoring from the Admin panel on the AML page, or you can receive notifications via webhooks whenever a company’s status changes (e.g. if it’s added to a sanctions list).

Manual Lookup from thr Admin panel

1. Go to the Manual Lookup page: Go to the Manual Lookup page and select the AML tab.
2. Select entity type: Depending on whether you’re screening an individual or an organization, such as a company or vessel, you can choose between Person and Business lookup options.
3. Review results: The AML menu organizes results under separate tabs for Person and Business, ensuring clear access to relevant sanctions lists.

Entity Lookup

Run entity searches programmatically via the Entity API or Fraud API. When using this method, keep the following points in mind: 

Include specific information

Make sure your search queries include the company name and country information.

Select the correct type (Fraud API only)

When using the Fraud API, ensure you select the correct type in the Type field to define the subject:

1. PERSON – Individual human subject
2. ENTITY – Organization, company, or institution
3. UNKNOWN – When the subject type is not clearly defined (SEON's AI will decide)

Use search enhancements
You can use the Search Profile or advanced fuzzy parameters to improve entity screening.

Learn more: Head over to the API reference page to see how to run an entity search query. 

You can screen a wide range of individuals and companies flagged as risky by financial institutions worldwide with the entity search functionality.

Being flagged can be a consequence of the following:

• Committing fraud (which can mean major infractions, such as insurance fraud),
• Failure to adhere to court-issued obligations,
• Revocation of license due to a serious breach of norms,
• Offering unregistered securities,
• Suspension and debarment,
• Being an accomplice in criminal money laundering,
• Being convicted of a crime involving dishonesty or breach of trust,
• Lack of business honesty or integrity.

Our data includes the names of the flagged businesses, their primary country of interest, the cause for being placed on a watchlist, as well as the issue number and issue data. There is also additional information about associated entities for an individual or company in several cases, which can help you with linking and mapping relations between entities.

Tip: This is also a good tool for finding close associates and business partners in the case of Politically Exposed Persons.

Here’s the list of data sources being checked when searching for suspicious entities:

• Argentina Financial Information Unit (UIF) Sanctions
• Argentina National Securities Commission (CNV) Investor Protection
• Argentina National Securities Commission (CNV) Other Entities
• Argentina Public Registry of Persons and Entities linked to acts of Terrorism and their Financing
• Australia AUSTRAC Enforcment Actions, Remittance registration actions
• Australia Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) Undertakings Register, Public warning, Infringement Notices, Unlicensed Lenders
• Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Consolidated Sanctions List
• Australian Prudential Regulation Authority Disqualification Register, Enforceable Undertakings Register, Infringement Notices
• Austria Financial Market Supervision (FMA) Warning, Sanction, Investor Warnings
• Azerbaijan The Financial Monitoring Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan Sanction list
• Bangladesh Bangladesh Bank Domestic Sanction List
• Belgium Federal Public Service Finance Financial Sanctions
• Belgium Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA) Unlawful Companies
• Belize Financial Services Commission Warning Notices
• Brazil Black List of Slave Labor
• Brazil Federal Court of Auditors (TCU) Irregular Accounts System Watchlist
• Brazil Federal Court of Auditors (TCU) List of Debarred Entities
• Brazil Federal Government Transparency Portal (CEIS, CNEP, CEPIM, CEAF) Sanctioned Entities
• Brazil IBAMA Notices and Embargos
• Brazil Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM) Defaulted Companies, Suspended Registrations, Canceled Registrations
• Brazil Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM) Suspension Alerts
• Brazil Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM) Suspension Alerts, Suspended Companies
• Brazil Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM) Suspensions
• Brazil Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM) Temporarily Prohibited/Prevented
• Brazil Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM) Temporarily Prohibited/Prevented - Judgments
• Bulgaria Omnio Sanctions
• Canada Alberta Securities Commission Decisions
• Canada BC Securities Commission (BCSC) Investment Caution List
• Canada Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) Investor Alerts
• Canada Financial Markets Authority (FMA) Investor Warnings
• Canada Global Affairs Canada Sanctions
• Canada Public Safety Sanctions list
• Canada Saskatchewan Financial And Consumer Affairs Authority (FCAA) Enforcement Proceedings
• Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization Enforcement Actions
• Canadian Securities Administrators The Disciplined List, Cease Trade Orders
• China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (NFRA) Administrative Supervision Measures, Administrative Penalties
• China Chinese Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) Administrative Penalties, Market Ban, Warnings
• China National Bureau of Statistics Dishonest Corporations
• China Shanghai Stock Exchange Disciplinary Actions
• China The People's Bank of China Administrative Penalties
• Czech Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs National Sanction List
• Denmark Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (DFSA) Rulings, Warnings
• Estonia Financial Supervision Authority (FSA) Investor Alerts
• European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Ineligible Entities
• European Commission The EU Air Safety List
• European Union Financial Sanctions
• Finland Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA) Warnings from Foreign Authority, Unauthorized Service Providers, Prospectus Requirement, Insurance Brokerage, Supervised Entities
• Finland National Bureau of Investigation Public list of decisions to freeze funds
• France General Directorate of the Treasury Freezing Assets
• France Prudential Supervision and Resolution Authority (ACPR) Black List
• German Insolvency Register
• Germany Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) Measures and Sanctions
• Germany Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution of Germany Banned organizations
• Global African Development Bank Debarment and Sanctions Procedures
• Global Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Debarment List
• Global Inter-American Development Bank Sanctioned firms and individuals
• Global The World Bank Listing of Ineligible Firms and Individuals
• Global United Nations Security Council Sanctions
• Greece Hellenic Capital Market Commission (HCMC) Warnings
• HM Treasurys Office for Financial Sanctions
• Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) Disciplinary Actions
• Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) Cold Shoulder Orders, Disqualification, Arrest Warrant, Suspicious Investment
• Hong Kong The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited Disciplinary Sanctions
• Hungarian National Bank Warnings
• Hungary National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) Tax Avoiders, Unlawful Employers
• Hungary National Terrorism List
• India Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India Warnings and Penalties
• India Ministry of Home Affairs of India Counter Terrorism and Counter Radicalization Division List of Banned Organisations/Individuals
• India SEBI Debarred Entities
• India SEBI Regulatory Actions
• India The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967
• Indonesia Financial Transaction Reporting and Analysis Center of Indonesia List of Suspected Terrorists and Terrorist Organizations
• IOSCO Investor Alerts
• Iraq Central Bank of Iraq Prohibited Entities From Using USD
• Ireland Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) Warning Notices, Unauthorised Firms
• Ireland Chartered Accountants Disciplinary Decisions
• Ireland Irish Tax and Customs List of Defaulters, Cash seizures
• Ireland Unlawful Organisation (Suppression) Order Sanction List
• Israel National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing of Israel Sanction List, Seizures of Cryptocurrency
• Italy Companies and Exchange Commission (CONSOB) Warnings
• Japan Economic Sanctions and Target List
• Japan Exchange Group Delisted and Disciplined Entities
• Japan Financial Services Agency Watchlist
• Japan The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry End user list
• Kazakhstan Agency on Financial Monitoring
• Kyrgyzstan Consolidated Sanctions List of the Kyrgyz Republic
• Latvia Bank of Latvia (FKTK) Sanctions
• Latvia Financial Intelligence Service of Latvia Sanctions List
• Lebanon Internal Security Forces of Lebanon National List Comprising the Names of Persons and Entities Involved in Terrorism or Terrorist Financing
• Liechtenstein Financial Market Authority (FMA) Warnings and Indications
• Lithuania Bank of Lithuania Enforcment Measures
• Lithuania Bank of Lithuania Unregistered Companies, Illegal Sites
• Lithuania Financial Crime Investigation Service International Sanctions
• Luxembourg Insurance Commission (CAA) Warnings, Sanctions, Administrative Measures
• Malaysia Ministry of Home of Malaysia Sanctions List
• Malta Asset Recovery Bureau (ARB) Court Orders
• Malta Financial Services Authority (MSFA) Warnings
• Malta Financial Services Authority Administrative (MSFA) Measures and Penalties, Notices And Decisions, Suspensions
• Malta Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) Enforcement Register
• Mexico National Baking and Stock Commission Sanctioned Entities
• Mexico National Digital Platform (PDN) Sanctioned Public and Private Servants
• Mexico Tax Administration Service (SAT) Tax Avoiders
• Moldova Anti-Terrorist Center of the Intelligence and Security Service of the Republic of Moldova Sanctions List
• Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) Warnings
• Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs National Sanction List
• New Zealand Financial Markets Authority (FMA) Warning and alerts, Management bans, Enforcement Activity, Finance Company Collapses
• New Zealand Police Designated terrorist entities
• New Zealand Real Estate Authority Complaint Decisions List
• New Zealand Serious Fraud Office Cases
• Nigeria Sanctions Committe Sanction List
• Norway Finanstilsynet Warnings
• Oman Financial Services Authroity Local Terrorism List
• Pakistan National Counter Terrorism Authority Sanction List
• Philippines Central Bank Sanction List
• Poland Financial Supervisory Authority (KNF) Penalties Imposed
• Poland Ministry of Interior and Administration Sanctions
• Polish Financial Supervision Authority (KNF) Public Warnings
• Portugal Securities Market Commission (CMVM) Warning Notices
• Qatar Ministry of Interior Sate of Qatar Sanctions List
• Romania Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF) Insurance Fines, Pension Fines
• Romania Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF) Investor Alerts
• Romania National Office for the Prevention and Combat of Money Laundering Sanction List
• Singapore Monetary Authority of Singapore Investor Alert, Enforcement Actions
• Slovakia National Bank of Slovakia (NBS) Statements of Final Decisions, Warnings
• Slovenia Commission for the Prevention of Corruption (KPK) Business Restrictions
• Slovenia Securities Market Agency (AVTP) Agency Warnings
• South Africa Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) Enforcement Actions
• South African Targeted Financial Sanctions
• Spain Bank of Spain Sanctions
• Spain National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) Warnings, Engine for Warned Companies, Other Entities, Warnings from other regulators
• Sri Lanka Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Santion List
• Sweden Finansinspektionen (Fise) Investor Alerts
• Switzerland Financial Market Supervisory Authority (Finma) Warnings, Final Rulings
• Switzerland State Secretariat for Economic Affairs Sanctions and Embargos
• Taiwan Ministry of Justice Designated Sanctioned Entities
• Tajikistan National Bank of Tajikistan Sanctions List
• Tunis National Counter Terrorism Commission Sanction List
• Turkey Capital Markets Board of Türkiye Prohibited List
• UAE Dubai Financial Services Authority Prohibited Individuals
• UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Warnings
• UK Gambling Commission Regulatory Actions
• UK Gazette Insolvency Notices
• UK HM Revenue & Customs Tax Defaulters Current List Of Deliberate Tax Defaulters
• UK ICAEW Disciplinary Records Insolvency
• UK Proscribed Terrorist Groups or Organizations
• UK Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) Enforcement
• Ukraine National Agency on Corruption Prevention Sanctions List
• Ukraine The State Financial Monitoring Service of Ukraine Sanctions List
• United Arab Emirates Executive Office for Control & Non-Proliferation of the United Arab Emirates Local Sanction List
• United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Criminal Prosecutions
• United States FDA Debarment List, Advisory Letters, Warning Letters
• USA Arizona Department of Insurance Enforcement Actions
• USA Bureau for Industry and Security (BIS) Denied Persons List
• USA Bureau of Counterterrorism of the State Department Terrorist Exclusion List
• USA Bureau of Fraud Deterrence of New Jersey Enforcement List
• USA California Department of Corporations Disciplinary Actions
• USA Commodity Futures Trading Commission Enforcement Actions
• USA Commodity Futures Trading Commission Registration Deficient List
• USA Delaware's Attorney General Administrative & Director Orders List
• USA District Of Columbia Excluded Parties List
• USA DoD Chinese Military Companies
• USA Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Enforcement Decisions and Orders, Failed Bank List
• USA Federal Reserve Enforcement Actions
• USA Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Legal Library Warning Letters, Banned Debt Collectors, Banned From Debt Relief
• USA Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Barred Individuals, Disciplinary Actions
• USA Fincen 311 and 9714 Special Measures
• USA Fincen Enforcement Actions
• USA Georgia Office of Inspector General Exclusions
• USA Homeland Security UFLPA Entity List
• USA Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Disciplinary / Enforcement Actions
• USA Indiana Department of Insurance Enforcement Actions
• USA Indiana Secretary of State Securities Division Administrative Actions
• USA Iowa Insurance Division Enforcement Orders and Actions
• USA Louisiana Department of Insurance Regulatory Actions
• USA Maine Professional and Financial Regulation Disciplinary Actions
• USA Market Regulation Enforcement Disciplinary Actions
• USA Massachusetts Medicaid Suspensions And Exclusions
• USA Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services Sanctioned Providers
• USA Minnesota Health Care Programs Excluded Provider Lists
• USA Mississippi Secretary of State Securities Division Enforcements Organisations
• USA New Jersey Division of Revenue Consolidated Debarment List
• USA New York State Office Of General Services Non-Responsible Entities
• USA North Carolina Commissioner of Banks Disciplinary Actions
• USA Office of Antiboycott Compliance (OAC) Requester List
• USA Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) non-SDN sanctions lists (USA)
• USA Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Specially Designated Nationals And Blocked Persons List
• USA Office of Inspector General List of Excluded Individuals/Entities
• USA Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) Enforcement Actions
• USA Pennsylvania Insurance Department Enforcement Actions List
• USA Pennsylvania Insurance Department Enforcement Actions List
• USA Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Public Alert, Enforcement and Litigation, FCPA Cases, Delinquent Filings, Accounting and Auditing Enforcement
• USA South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation Administrative Actions
• USA State Department List of Restricted Entities and Subentities Associated With Cuba
• USA State Department Nonproliferation Sanctions
• USA System for Award Management Exclusions
• USA Utah Insurance Department Administrative Actions Organisations

Note: For the complete list of data sources SEON’s AML API collects potential hits from, please visit this page.