Red Flags Uncovered, analysing Suspicious Transactions in Financial Investigations, 12 February 2026

Workshop provides a clear, structured overview of how to identify and analyse red flags in financial transactions.

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Delegates will learn to recognise behavioural and transactional anomalies, apply analytical frameworks to assess suspicious activity, and produce clear, defensible suspicion narratives and SARs.

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Through real-world case studies, the course strengthens participants’ ability to detect high-risk patterns, prioritise alerts, and support effective AML and fraud-investigation decision-making.

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Held online via Team. Certificates of CPD available.

 

The day will include:

Session One: Understanding Red Flags — Indicators Across Fraud, AML, and Financial Crime

This opening session introduces participants to the spectrum of red-flag indicators that signal suspicious or illicit activity. It explores the distinction between transactional anomalies, behavioural inconsistencies, structural irregularities, and typology-driven indicators.

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Key topics include:

• the role of red flags in AML, fraud prevention, and risk assessment

• common typologies across banking, payments, remittances, trade finance, and digital platforms

• behavioural indicators (e.g., unusual customer patterns, inconsistent documentation)

• transactional indicators (e.g., rapid movement of funds, circular transfers, structuring)

• geographic and sectoral indicators tied to high-risk jurisdictions and industries

• emerging red flags linked to fintech, virtual assets, and online fraud

 

The session ensures participants can accurately define, recognise, and articulate red-flag indicators in a variety of operational contexts.

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Session Two: Analytical Frameworks for Identifying and Prioritising Suspicious Transactions

This session presents a structured, defensible approach to analysing potentially suspicious activity. Participants learn how to transform raw transaction data into meaningful intelligence through analytical reasoning.

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Topics covered include:

• building analytical models for suspicious-transaction review

• assessing materiality, intent, and potential misuse of financial products

• identifying patterns: structuring, layering, round-tripping, and burst activity

• correlating customer profiles with actual financial behaviour

• evaluating the reliability and completeness of available information

• distinguishing genuine anomalies from false positives

• prioritisation techniques based on risk and operational impact

 

The session equips participants with the ability to apply analytical methodologies rather than relying solely on checklists.

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Session Three: Developing Defensible Suspicion Narratives and Suspicious Activity Report Documentation

Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) must be clear, concise, and defensible. This session guides participants through the process of producing high-quality analytical outputs.

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Topics include:

• structuring a suspicion narrative using evidence and logical reasoning

• articulating the “who, what, when, where, why, and how” of suspicious behaviour

• transforming indicators into clear grounds for suspicion

• aligning documentation with regulatory expectations and audit requirements

• avoiding overreporting and underreporting pitfalls

• handling incomplete data while maintaining narrative integrity

• writing SARs that support intelligence sharing and follow-up investigations

 

Through examples and model structures, participants learn how to produce robust, regulator-ready reports.

 

Session Four: Case Studies and Practical Analysis Exercises

The final session applies all concepts through realistic, hands-on case studies drawn from fraud, AML, corruption, and terrorist-financing investigations.

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Participants will work through:

• multi-transaction scenarios involving complex layering and cross-border flows

• indicators of account takeover, mule accounts, and synthetic-identity fraud

• typologies involving trade-based money laundering (TBML) and invoice manipulation

• crypto-asset transactions and decentralised finance red flags

• corruption red flags involving politically exposed persons (PEPs)

• escalation pathways and recommended actions

 

The session concludes with group discussions, reinforcing how analytical techniques, red-flag identification, and narrative development combine to support defensible, intelligence-led decision-making.

 

About our speaker

Antonio Rossi is a Certified Fraud Examiner with over a decade of experience in the fields of financial crime, fraud investigation, and anti-money laundering (AML).

 

After working for ten years with a Big Four firm across Europe, he now focuses on training and advisory services for law enforcement agencies, financial institutions, private sector and international organisations.

 

Antonio has also conducted advanced training sessions on OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) techniques to support investigative strategies.

 

He regularly collaborates with public and private entities to deliver specialised training on illicit financial flows, cryptocurrency abuse, and risk-based approaches to AML/CTF compliance.

 

He holds internationally recognised certifications and is a frequent speaker at conferences and workshops across Europe.

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HOW TO BOOK

Cost: £209 + VAT (GBP) per delegate per workshop (LEA and Government Agency rate).  £249.50 + VAT (Industry rate), per delegate 

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Group bookings: We offer various discounts for group bookings depending on numbers, please contact us for details.

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Booking: Please send the delegates name(s), email address(es) and purchase order (made out to The Investigator) to booking@the-investigator.co.uk or telephone +44(0)844 660 8707 for further information. 

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Payment can be made by PayPal/debit/credit card. ​The meeting link will be sent out 7 days before the event.