SmartSearch: Why identity theft bypasses fraud prevention checks

For regulated firms, this creates a growing challenge: how do you stop fraudsters who can convincingly imitate legitimate customers, manipulate identity data, and bypass traditional verification checks? At SmartSearch, we see first-hand how financial crime is shifting toward AI-driven deception, synthetic identities, and increasingly complex fraud networks. Our 2026 Compliance Report highlights the operational pressures […]

The SmartSearch Compliance Report 2026

Our 2026 Compliance Report reveals a stark new reality: 87% of businesses would immediately cut ties after a single compliance failure. The report also covers: 95% of firms admit struggling with at least one major compliance challenge. 54% of checks are still manual, even as deepfake fraud surges. 72% of leaders expect compliance complexity to skyrocket in the next 12 […]

SmartSearch: The UK 2026 compliance reality check webinar

In April, we published the SmartSearch Compliance Report 2026. We surveyed 1,000 people working in legal, accountancy, property, financial services, and insurance to understand how businesses are really coping with compliance. CEO, Phil Cotter, Chief Customer Officer, Collette Smith, and Sales Director, Joe Morris, hosted a webinar discussing what the data found and what it means for your business.   The session covered: […]

Hidden in plain sight: manual checks leave UK high streets exposed, warns SmartSearch

Commenting on ‘Hidden in plain sight’  – a new report from Trading Standards which found that as many as half of convenience stores and vape retailers in some areas and a third of American candy stores are estimated to have links with organised crime, Phil Cotter, CEO  at leading anti-fraud experts SmartSearch says it has […]

How to be AML Compliant – SmartSearch

Every firm that’s subject to money laundering regulations must put AML compliance policies and procedures in place, in order to minimise their money laundering risk.

The FCA takeover of AML supervision is a wake-up call for the legal sector – SmartSearch

The FCA takeover of AML supervision is a wake-up call for the legal sector: compliance can no longer be treated as a tick-box exercise—it must be embedded, proactive, and risk-based.

Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA): Key Impacts, Compliance, and What Businesses Need to Know – SmartSearch

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA) is a UK law aimed at tackling economic crime by improving transparency around corporate entities, particularly by giving Companies House more power to verify information and investigate potential issues.

2026 SmartSearch compliance guide and checklist

Download SmartSearch’s 2026 compliance guide and checklist to understand key AML obligations, stay compliant with regulations, and reduce risk with confidence.

The Future of AML: four transformative trends shaping 2026

Download our whitepaper to discover The Future of AML: Four Transformative Trends Shaping 2026.

Unlocking the Future of Source of Funds with SmartSearch

In this episode of SmartSessions, Host Oliver Telfor sits down with Sophia Sulaman, Product Director, for a deep dive into our upcoming product launch: Source of Funds.