AML/KYC Policy
This policy applies to all VFM Brokers officers, employees, appointed producers, and products and services offered by VFM Brokers. All business units and locations within VFM Brokers will cooperate to create a cohesive effort in the fight against money laundering. Each business unit and location has implemented risk-based procedures reasonably expected to prevent, detect and cause the reporting of transactions. All efforts exerted will be documented and retained. The AML Compliance Committee is responsible for initiating Suspicious Activity Reports (“SARs”) or other required reporting to the appropriate law enforcement or regulatory agencies. Any contacts by law enforcement or regulatory agencies related to the Policy shall be directed to the AML Compliance Committee.
- Acquiring, using or possessing criminal property
- Handling the proceeds of crimes such as theft, fraud and tax evasion
- Being knowingly involved in any way with criminal or terrorist property
- Entering into arrangements to facilitate laundering criminal or terrorist property
- Investing the proceeds of crimes in other financial products
- Investing the proceeds of crimes through the acquisition of property/assets
- Transferring criminal property.
- Placement
Disposal of the initial proceeds derived from illegal activity e.g. into a bank account. - Layering
The money is moved through the system in a series of financial transactions in order to disguise the origin of the cash with the purpose of giving it the appearance of legitimacy. - Integration
Criminals are free to use the money as they choose once it has been removed from the system as apparently “clean” funds.
- The customer’s full name, and
- Their residential address
- Valid passport
- National Identity card
- The customer’s full name, and
- Their residential address
- Current bank statements, or credit/debit card statements, issued by a regulated financial sector firm (but not ones printed off the internet and not less than 6 months old)
- Utility bills (not including mobile phone bills, not ones printed off the internet and not less than 6 months old)
- Employment and income details
- Source of wealth (i.e. the source of the funds being used in the transaction)
- The customer exhibits unusual concern regarding the firm’s compliance with government reporting requirements and the firm’s AML policies, particularly with respect to his or her identity, type of business and assets, or is reluctant or refuses to reveal any information concerning business activities, or furnishes unusual or suspect identification or business documents.
- The customer wishes to engage in transactions that lack business sense or apparent investment strategy or are inconsistent with the customer’s stated business strategy.
- The information provided by the customer that identifies a legitimate source for funds is false, misleading, or substantially incorrect.
- Upon request, the customer refuses to identify or fails to indicate any legitimate source for his or her funds and other assets.
- The customer (or a person publicly associated with the customer) has a questionable background or is the subject of news reports indicating possible criminal, civil, or regulatory violations.
- The customer exhibits a lack of concern regarding risks, commissions, or other transaction costs.
- The customer appears to be acting as an agent for an undisclosed principal, but declines or is reluctant, without legitimate commercial reasons, to provide information or is otherwise evasive regarding that person or entity.
- The customer has difficulty describing the nature of his or her business or lacks general knowledge of his or her industry.
- The customer attempts to make frequent or large deposits of currency, insists on dealing only in cash equivalents, or asks for exemptions from the firm’s policies relating to the deposit of cash and cash equivalents.
- For no apparent reason, the customer has multiple accounts under a single name or multiple names, with a large number of inter-account or third-party transfers.
- The customer’s account has unexplained or sudden extensive activity, especially in accounts that had little or no previous activity.
- The customer’s account has a large number of wire transfers to unrelated third parties inconsistent with the customer’s legitimate business purpose.
- The customer’s account has wire transfers that have no apparent business purpose to or from a country identified as money laundering risk or a bank secrecy haven.
- The customer’s account indicates large or frequent wire transfers, immediately withdrawn by check or debit card without any apparent business purpose.
- The customer makes a funds deposit followed by an immediate request that the money be wired out or transferred to a third party, or to another firm, without any apparent business purpose.
- The customer makes a funds deposit for the purpose of purchasing a long-term investment followed shortly thereafter by a request to liquidate the position and transfer of the proceeds out of the account.
- The customer requests that a transaction be processed in such a manner to avoid the firm’s normal documentation requirements.
- Is the size of the transaction consistent with the normal activities of the customer?
- Is the transaction rationale in the context of the customer’s business or personal activities?
- Has the pattern of transactions conducted by the customer changed?
- Clients who are reluctant to provide proof of identity;
- Clients who place undue reliance on an introducer (they may be hiding behind the introducer to avoid giving you a true picture of their identity or business);
- Requests for cash related business, for example questions about whether investments can be made in cash, suggestions that funds might be available in cash for investment;
- Where the source of funds for investment is unclear;
- Where the magnitude of the available funds appears inconsistent with the client’s other circumstances (i.e. the source of wealth is unclear). Examples might be students or young people with large amounts to invest;
- Where the transaction doesn’t appear rational in the context of the customer’s business or personal activities. Particular care should be taken in this area if the client changes their method of dealing with you without a reasonable explanation;
- Where the pattern of transactions changes;
- Where a client who is undertaking transactions that are international in nature does not appear to have any good reason to be conducting business with the countries involved (e.g. why do they hold monies in the particular country that the funds are going to or from? Do their circumstances suggest that it would be reasonable for them to hold funds in such countries?);
- Clients who are unwilling to provide you with normal personal or financial information, for no apparent or rational reason. (Care should be taken not to include all distance relationships as suspicious, because most will be for genuine reasons. Suspicions will ordinarily be based upon cumulative as opposed to stand-alone issues)
Articles

Trading Psychology – Article 1
What Is Trading Psychology and Why Should You Know About It When Trading The CFD Market? Have you ever lost big on a CFD market? What ...

Why Risk Management Is a Priority With Leverage Trading?
Do you feel your trades are restricted by your account size? Well! It’s the case for most of the traders. Your trades and investment...

Working Hard To Make Your Life? Get Into Forex Trading
Everyone is living in their own life struggling to fulfill their dreams. Some work hard and get close to their dreams. However, for som...
Open an account today and start trading within minutes.
Don't wait any longer. Join us today.