What if I get a preliminary OFAC alert with someone on the SDN list?

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Office of foreign assets control.

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Jeff VanOrnam Selected answer as best November 29, 2021

Most OFAC-checking services will inform you if there is a preliminary match against someone listed on the SDN List. If you get a preliminary match, you must take steps to determine whether the alert is genuine or a “false positive.” OFAC recommends the following steps to take:

  • Make sure the “alert” is against the SDN List and not against another list maintained by OFAC such as the World Bank Debarred Parties or Blocked Officials File
  • If you determine the alert to be against the SDN List, you must evaluate the quality of the alert. Compare the name of the customer with the name on the SDN List. Is the name on the SDN List a company or a vessel? Is the name on the list a male’s name where your applicant is a female? If yes to any discrepancy, you do not have a valid match.
  • How much of the SDN List’s name is matching against the name of your customer? Get the customer’s middle name, any surname or generational designation (Sr., Jr., III, etc.).
  • Check the SDN List entry for the type of information listed. Frequently, the SDN List will contain passport numbers, Social Security or Tax ID numbers, nationality, place of birth, date of birth, cell phone number, and other information. Get similar information from your customer to evaluate the legitimacy of the match.
  • If there are a number of similarities or an exact match, call the OFAC hotline at 1-800-540-6322 and explain your knowledge or belief. Leave an urgent message if you get a voice mail response. Be sure to leave a return phone number and email address.ddf3a3ade08a03202b6b5cd69e0fd8b590fd44f8 3
Jeff VanOrnam Selected answer as best November 29, 2021
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