Money laundering

Report identifies art market as a target for organised crime

Internal crime agency urges vigilance, and greater efforts on monitoring and enforcement, but industry figures say study lacks focus and hard evidence of key vulnerabilities.

Crime news

Moscow-based architect, who built ‘Putin’s Palace’, refuses to return to Italy to face trial

Italian Lanfranco Cirillo—whose 150-strong art collection was seized last year—will be tried in absentia by an Italian court next month for tax and money laundering crimes

Lawcomment

The UK has updated its Anti-Money Laundering Guidance—here's what it means for the art market

Clarifications simplify who falls into the "regulated art sector" and who should be doing "Know Your Customer" or "KYC" checks on whom

UK’s revenue and customs agency begins handing out fines to art market players

HMRC is penalising art world "participants" that have failed to register under the new anti-money laundering legislations

Inhotim founder Bernardo Paz, acquitted of money laundering, donates more than 300 works from his collection to the institute

Paz had been accused of transferring nearly $100m made as donations to the sprawling art centre to his mining and steel companies

‘Putin’s Palace’ architect investigated over alleged €50m tax bill

Italian authorities seize valuable paintings in Lanfranco Cirillo's collection, including works by Picasso, Cézanne and Kandinsky

'Damaging and unjust' legislation linking art and antiques trade to money laundering and terrorism financing must stop, industry body says

Cinoa, the dealer association, has issued an open letter criticising recent reports that make 'false claims' linking industry to crime

NFT market is vulnerable to money laundering, according to US Treasury study of the art trade

While the study concedes there are some nefarious financial dealings in the art market, there are more immediate concerns and regulatory manoeuvres to take

Art marketcomment

Art market money laundering crackdown spreads from UK to the US, but what impact is it having and are businesses taking it seriously?

Global inconsistency between regulations makes already complex rules more confusing and while the US is following the EU’s lead, its regulations do not yet include “flat art”—only antiquities

Art trade in ‘constructive dialogue’ with UK government as economic crime levy policy paper is published

Levy threatened to disproportionately affect galleries, which measure turnover differently to auction houses

Art world rushes to conform to UK's anti-money laundering laws

So far a total of 475 "art market participants" have been registered—but delays mean more are likely to comply in the coming months

Art marketcomment

Not all they seem: how galleries can spot fake ID documents

From face-matching software to watching out for shifty behaviour, here is how you can protect yourself from fraudsters attempting to buy art under a false identity

Art marketcomment

Overseas galleries and art advisors listen up: you are not immune to new money laundering laws at UK fairs this autumn

Those exhibiting and doing business at events in the country now have to abide by the same, stricter rules as British businesses

What the US government sanctions of prominent Bulgarian art collector Vassil Bojkov mean for the art market

Oligarch is blacklisted as countries ramp up regulation and authorities move yet another step closer to the art world

If you sell art in the UK, you must register for anti-money laundering supervision by tomorrow—or risk prosecution

"Art market participants" who sell works of art worth €10,000 (£8,600) or more must register with the HMRC by 10 June

Artists will not be subject to anti-money laundering regulations, UK Treasury says

After lobbying from art organisations, government has made last-minute decision that creators who sell their work direct to clients will not be classed as "Art Market Participants"

Art marketcomment

The art market is 'high risk' for money laundering, so ignore new regulations at your peril

The UK government may make examples of galleries, advisors and auction houses found failing to comply to new laws, so prepare your business with these steps

NFTcomment

The looming legal and regulatory questions NFT collectors and sellers should prepare for

An expert in anti-money laundering laws shares her thoughts on the booming digital art marketplace

Art marketcomment

Risky business: how new US sanctions regulations will actually impact the art market

The US government has the 'regulatory vacuum' in its sights—here is a guide to who will be affected and how

Art marketcomment

How will US money laundering crackdown actually impact the art market? A lawyer explains

Congress is increasing its regulation of antiquities trade and while its powers are limited for now, change will come so the art industry must prepare

Art marketcomment

How art world leaders can embrace new money laundering regulations and create a 'think risk' culture

Punishment for the new rules now falls on the art market's top dogs, says Sotheby’s founding global compliance director Rena Neville

What the presidential election means for the US art market—no matter who is in the Oval Office

A dwindling middle market faces a stingy Senate while rising inequality and public unrest could prompt even more private sales

Will US Congress finally pass anti-money laundering legislation?

A recent Senate report found that secretive art market enables sanctions circumvention

Gold tycoon and art collector James Stunt charged with money laundering and forgery

The former husband of heiress Petra Ecclestone denies any criminality and says he will contest all charges

New money laundering regulations cause confusion at London Art Fair

Mid-market galleries take a mixed approach to new law, with some pricing works below the €10,000 threshold to avoid dealing with new client ID requirements

Crime news

Released but still under investigation: Russian couple embroiled in fraud scandal

Igor and Olga Toporovsky linked to controversial show of Russian avant-garde works in Ghent

Tough UK anti-money laundering law comes into force tomorrow—here's what you need to know

A lawyer's advice to art dealers, agents and galleries who could be unprepared for the hastily enforced new regulations

Is the art trade ready for new EU law calling for tough action on "dirty money"?

Many dealers say new regulations on money laundering will be almost impossible to comply with