We are glad you've visited this site. FIAT is dedicated to improving communications between the public and private sector to aid in the prevention and prosecution of fraud.

This website contains information about the Mission and History of FIAT along with links to related sites, the annual conference and member information.

The Member Directory is currently being created to provide a network of contacts throughout Texas as well as other states. The Directory is for members only so if you aren't currently a member or need to renew your membership, simply select "Become a Member" on the left side of this page to enroll.

FinCEN has reported the following criminal cases have been solved in part by the use of SARs. The cases are reported here as a means of highlighting the type of case that involves reliance on financial institutions' filing SARs.

Defense Inapplicable to Deposits in Violation of Restrictive Indorsements

Continental Cas. Co. v. Fifth/Third Bank

Compass Bank was not the only institution to feel the wrath of Continental Casualty Company’s efforts to recover payments made to its insureds.

Continental Cas. Co. v. Compass Bank

One could learn much of a course in negotiable instruments by studying cases involving the recent efforts of Continental Casualty Company, an insurance company that paid losses to victims of employee embezzlement, to recover from banks involved in the underlying fraudulent schemes. This series of cases considers the scope of employer liability, the meaning of good faith and the range of defenses available to banks that have accepted deposits of checks bearing forged indorsements.

The following examples of money laundering investigations that led to convictions were derived from Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reports. They are provided here to serve as examples of the type of investigation in which suspicious activity reporting by banks under the Bank Secrecy Act may prove useful.

from the ABA Education Foundation

There's good news for anyone who is worried that their financial information has fallen into the wrong hands. Consumers now have a new tool at their disposal; they can place a "Fraud Alert" on their credit file.

Real-looking checks mean real trouble

The National Consumers League (NCL) has joined with the American Bankers Association (ABA) in warning consumers of the growing problem of fake check scams.