The anti-money laundering (AML) firm said it has achieved record profits and revenue as well as its highest number of clients in September because of the increased risks caused by the pandemic.
The West Yorkshire-based firm explained how the property market is particularly vulnerable to attempts at money laundering. Indeed, the rush to buy sparked by the Stamp Duty holiday announced in July has put huge pressures on the system which criminals are able to exploit.
In September SmartSearch saw revenues up by 55% to £1.34 million for the month, profits rose by 200% compared to September 2019, and the company onboarded 90 new customers.
John Dobson, CEO of the firm, said it was no surprise that more businesses are looking for the kind of solutions provided by SmartSearch at this time. He said SmartSearch not only guaranteed compliance with current AML regulations, but also provided an unparalleled level of protection.
He added: “This year has seen some impressive growth for the business, not only in the UK but in Europe and the United States where we opened our first office last month.
“It comes as no surprise to us given the superior nature of our products and services, but of course it reflects the reality today, where we see on an almost daily basis how serious the problem of money-laundering has become.
“Property purchases remain one of the most effective methods for criminals to launder the proceeds of their activities. So it is incumbent upon all parties operating in that process to ensure they are protected against that threat, and to comply with the regulations. The consequence of non-compliance is not only the threat of a hefty fine from the FCA, but it also legitimises criminal activity.
“Prevention starts with confirming the ID of your customer, it’s that simple. And only SmartSearch has the ability to verify individuals and companies in the UK, and internationally, in a single platform via a browser or API, with full Sanction, PEP and adverse media screening, and then ongoing monitoring.”
SmartSearch has also been ranked 15th in the Sunday Times Profit Track 100, which was officially announced at a virtual ceremony on Thursday, October 15.
