From 1 July 2026, your business may be regulated by AUSTRAC. Staff are a key line of defence.
Key concepts
Top red flags
Customer behaviour
Vague answers, reluctance to provide ID, unusual urgency.
Transaction patterns
Round numbers, structuring, rapid in-and-out.
Source of funds
Inconsistent with profile, third-party origin.
Documentation
Mismatched names/addresses, edited documents.
Don't tip off
If you suspect — escalate internally only. Never tell the customer or anyone outside your AML/CTF team. Tipping off is a criminal offence.
Checklist
How to escalate
- Document what you observed — facts, not opinions.
- Submit through your internal escalation tool.
- Notify your AML/CTF team immediately for urgent matters.
- Continue normal service to the customer — don't alert them.