Financial crime remains a major threat to government revenues, national security and society, making swift, targeted investigations more important than ever.
According to Moody’s, the European Commission noted in an April 2021 press release that “80% of crimes have a digital component”, highlighting the critical need for law enforcement to leverage online data and “digital leads” to gather evidence.
Despite the wealth of data available, the sheer volume can overwhelm investigators, making it harder to uncover clear, actionable insights. Traditional methods often struggled to effectively merge internal data with open-source intelligence (OSINT), leaving teams drowning in information instead of following clear trails.
Solutions like Moody’s Maxsight™ Investigations platform are changing the landscape. By integrating internal records with OSINT, this platform enables investigators to pursue digital leads effectively, tracing money trails and uncovering connections between individuals and organisations. The platform’s flexibility means it can support diverse cases, including sanctions evasion, cybersecurity threats, fraud, and tax crime.
Tax evasion is a particularly urgent focus. According to the State of Tax Justice 2023 report, countries lose an estimated $480bn annually to tax abuse. Recovering even a small share of these losses could significantly bolster government budgets. However, the sophisticated networks involved demand speed—illicit funds can quickly disappear offshore or through shell companies, making timely intervention critical.
The European Commission also highlighted that “over 60% of criminal networks active in the EU engage in corruption” and “more than 80% use legitimate businesses as a front”, yet only “1% of criminal assets is confiscated”. With better digital tools, investigators can improve asset recovery and strengthen financial resilience.
Modern platforms like Moody’s Maxsight™ support digital forensics by filtering vast data sources to uncover critical connections. By analysing company data, sanctions lists, negative news, misuse of legal entities, and social media footprints, investigators can focus on building strong cases rather than getting lost in the data.
The return on investment for these tools is clear. They provide the resources to tackle critical cases more effectively, helping governments recover lost revenue and bring financial criminals to justice.
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