A typical global sanctions background check involves screening against various sanctions lists maintained by different governments and international bodies, such as the United Nations Security Council Sanctions List, the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List, the European Union's Consolidated Sanctions List, and many others.
These sanctions lists include names of individuals, organizations, and countries subject to specific restrictions, and they are continuously updated as new sanctions are imposed or lifted. During the background check, individuals and organizations are compared against these lists, and any matches or potential matches are further investigated to determine if there is a prohibited association or transaction.
Global sanctions background checks are a critical component of compliance and risk management programs, as violating sanctions can lead to severe legal and financial consequences, including fines, loss of licenses, and damage to a company's reputation. Therefore, it is crucial for businesses and organizations to ensure that their operations and dealings comply with all applicable international sanctions regimes.