Financial institutions play a crucial role in combating the Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) by identifying and reporting suspicious activities. To aid in this effort, a comprehensive set of red flag indicators has been developed to assist these institutions in detecting potential IWT-related transactions. While some indicators are common to various financial crimes, they hold particular significance in uncovering IWT activities. Organizations should adapt these indicators to their specific operations, integrating them with other risk factors to minimize false alerts and improve detection accuracy. Not all red flags will apply universally, so institutions should focus on those most relevant to their business models.

Key Red Flag Categories:

• Geographical Indicators

• Transportation Methods

• Client Profile Anomalies

• Transaction Patterns

By effectively implementing these red flag indicators, financial institutions can strengthen their defenses against IWT, contributing to global efforts to eradicate this illicit trade.