Detecting VPNs and Proxies: An Essential Step in KYC and AML Processes

Detecting VPNs and Proxies: An Essential Step in KYC and AML Processes
  • Published: March 30, 2023

Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) processes have become crucial in maintaining the integrity and security of online businesses. One essential aspect of these processes is VPN detection. In this blog post, we will delve into the significance of detecting VPNs and proxies, and how it contributes to the overall effectiveness of KYC and AML measures.

VPN Detection: A Key Aspect of KYC and AML Compliance

In today's interconnected world, cybercriminals have become increasingly creative in finding ways to exploit vulnerabilities in digital transactions. As a result, KYC and AML processes have been established to combat these threats, ensuring the security and reliability of financial transactions.

VPN detection plays a critical role in this fight, as it helps to identify users who are attempting to conceal their true location and identity using VPNs and proxies. By detecting and analyzing VPN usage, businesses can gain valuable insights into their customers activities, enhancing their KYC and AML compliance efforts.

Detecting VPN usage can help companies demonstrate that they are taking the necessary steps to identify and mitigate risks associated with their customers, ensuring compliance with these regulations.

How Criminals use VPNs to avoid KYC/AML measures

Criminals may use VPNs or Proxys to conduct illicit activities from jurisdictions that are subject to international sanctions or export controls. By using VPNs, criminals mask their true location to pretend they are accessing the internet from a non-sanctioned jurisdiction.

The primary aim of KYC/AML is to ensure that businesses do not unwittingly facilitate illegal activities, such as money laundering or terrorist financing. VPN detection is a critical component of the KYC process, as it can help identify users who are trying to conceal their true identity and location.

By detecting VPN usage, businesses can better assess the potential risks associated with a customer and make more informed decisions about whether or not to engage in transactions with them.

How Businesses can detect VPNs in their KYC/AML processes

As criminals continue to exploit VPNs to conduct illicit business activities from sanctioned or high-risk jurisdictions, it is essential for businesses and governments to prioritize VPN detection as a critical component of their compliance and security strategies. The Focsec VPN Detection API helps businesses detect VPN usage. Additionally Focsec helps you identify Proxy users, TOR users and malicious bots. Focsec is already used successfully by financial institutions and financial technology firms across the globe. Talk to an technical expert today to learn how you can integrate VPN Detection in your KYC and AML processes.

Want to detect VPNs, Proxies, TOR, Bots, Hackers and more?

The Focsec API detects VPNs, TOR, Proxies and Bots. It helps prevent fraud and protect against suspicious logins and attacks.

Read more »