As scams surge across Australia, banks need advanced fraud screening tools to protect customers and meet AUSTRAC’s compliance standards.

Introduction

Fraud is one of the fastest-growing risks in Australia’s financial system. In 2024, Australians lost more than AUD 3 billion to scams, from phishing and romance fraud to business email compromise (BEC) and authorised push payment (APP) scams. For banks and fintechs, the stakes are high. Regulators like AUSTRAC expect strong defences, while customers demand seamless, secure experiences.

The solution lies in smarter fraud screening tools. These technologies detect suspicious activity in real time, prevent illicit transactions, and provide compliance teams with the insights needed to fight evolving threats. This blog explores the state of fraud screening in Australia, what the best tools look like, and how financial institutions can get ahead of criminals.

What Are Fraud Screening Tools?

Fraud screening tools are technologies used to identify, flag, and block suspicious transactions and activities. They sit at the frontline of fraud prevention, screening payments, logins, and account activity for potential red flags.

Typical components include:

• Transaction Screening: Checking payments for unusual activity.
• Identity Verification: Ensuring users are who they claim to be.
• Sanctions and Watchlist Checks: Screening against AUSTRAC and global lists.
• Behavioural Analytics: Analysing customer patterns for anomalies.
• Case Management Integration: Linking alerts to investigation workflows.

Why Fraud Screening Tools Are Critical in Australia

1. Real-Time Payments Pressure

The New Payments Platform (NPP) and PayTo mean funds move instantly. Screening tools must detect anomalies within milliseconds.

2. AUSTRAC Compliance

Under the AML/CTF Act 2006, institutions must monitor and report suspicious activity. Fraud screening tools ensure compliance with SMRs, TTRs, and IFTIs.

3. Scam Epidemic

APP scams, investment fraud, and phishing are draining customer savings. Screening tools are essential to catch them early.

4. Customer Trust

Effective fraud prevention builds loyalty. A single missed scam can destroy trust.

5. Operational Efficiency

Manual reviews are unsustainable. Screening tools reduce false positives and investigator workloads.

Key Fraud Risks in Australia

1. Authorised Push Payment (APP) Scams – Fraudsters trick victims into approving fraudulent transfers.
2. Account Takeover (ATO) – Criminals gain access to legitimate accounts through phishing or malware.
3. Mule Accounts – Fraud networks use individuals to launder illicit funds.
4. Business Email Compromise (BEC) – Scammers impersonate vendors or executives to divert payments.
5. Synthetic Identities – Fake accounts created with blended real and fraudulent data.
6. Cross-Border Laundering – Funds layered through international transfers to obscure origins.

Red Flags Detected by Fraud Screening Tools

• Transactions just below AUSTRAC reporting thresholds.
• Unusual login behaviour, such as device or location changes.
• Accounts showing rapid pass-through activity with low balances.
• Sudden spikes in transaction frequency inconsistent with customer history.
• Transfers to or from high-risk jurisdictions.
• Repeated disputes of transactions by customers.

Features of the Best Fraud Screening Tools

1. Real-Time Detection

Monitoring across NPP, PayTo, cards, and remittances must happen instantly.

2. AI and Machine Learning

Adaptive models that learn from evolving scam patterns.

3. Sanctions, PEP, and Adverse Media Integration

Comprehensive screening against local and global watchlists.

4. Behavioural Analytics

Detects anomalies in customer behaviour and device usage.

5. Integrated Case Management

Alerts should feed directly into investigation workflows.

6. Federated Intelligence

Leverages insights from industry-wide data without compromising privacy.

7. Regulatory Reporting Automation

Generates SMRs, TTRs, and IFTIs for AUSTRAC seamlessly.

Challenges in Using Fraud Screening Tools

• False Positives: Poorly tuned systems overwhelm compliance teams.
• Legacy Systems: Many institutions struggle with outdated infrastructure.
• Integration Gaps: Screening often sits in silos, disconnected from AML tools.
• High Costs: Smaller institutions face affordability challenges.
• Evolving Typologies: Fraudsters constantly adapt to bypass controls.

Case Example: Community-Owned Banks Taking the Lead

Community-owned banks like Regional Australia Bank and Beyond Bank have shown that advanced fraud screening tools are not just for the big players. By adopting AI-powered platforms, they have strengthened their defences, reduced false positives, and maintained compliance with AUSTRAC, all while keeping customer trust intact.

Spotlight: Tookitaki’s FinCense

FinCense, Tookitaki’s all-in-one compliance platform, provides advanced fraud screening capabilities for Australian institutions.

• Instant Detection: Screens transactions in real time across all payment rails.
• Agentic AI: Continuously adapts to new scam tactics.
• Federated Intelligence: Draws on industry-wide fraud typologies from the AFC Ecosystem.
• Integrated Case Management: Provides investigators with context-rich alerts and regulator-ready reporting.
• AUSTRAC Alignment: Automates reporting and ensures transparency.
• Cross-Channel Coverage: Covers banking, cards, wallets, and remittances.

With FinCense, institutions can transform fraud screening into a proactive, intelligence-driven safeguard.

Best Practices for Deploying Fraud Screening Tools

1. Prioritise Real-Time Monitoring: Match the speed of NPP and PayTo transactions.
2. Invest in Explainable AI: Ensure regulators can understand and trust model decisions.
3. Integrate Screening with AML: Connect fraud and AML functions for a unified view of risk.
4. Improve Data Quality: Clean, consistent customer data improves screening accuracy.
5. Train Teams Continuously: Equip investigators to adapt to new typologies.
6. Collaborate with Regulators and Peers: Share insights to strengthen industry-wide defences.

The Future of Fraud Screening in Australia

1. AI-Powered Investigations – Copilots like FinMate will automate much of the investigative process.
2. Deeper PayTo Coverage – Tools will need to evolve to detect PayTo-related scams.
3. Cross-Border Intelligence Sharing – Fraud networks operate globally, demanding collaboration.
4. Digital Identity Integration – Biometrics will become a key defence in onboarding and monitoring.
5. Frictionless Customer Protection – Solutions will focus on seamless security without disrupting user experience.

Conclusion

Fraud screening tools are no longer optional for Australian banks and fintechs. With scams accelerating and AUSTRAC raising expectations, institutions must adopt smarter, real-time tools that can keep up with the pace of modern fraud.

Community-owned banks like Regional Australia Bank and Beyond Bank show that effective screening is achievable even without Tier-1 budgets. Platforms like Tookitaki’s FinCense combine AI, federated intelligence, and case management to set a new benchmark in fraud prevention.

Pro tip: The best fraud screening tools do more than stop fraud. They build the trust that keeps customers loyal in an increasingly risky landscape.

When it comes to AML compliance, it’s not about having more software. It’s about having the right features.

In Singapore’s highly regulated and fast-evolving financial sector, banks and fintechs are under increasing pressure to manage financial crime risks efficiently and accurately. With the rise of faster payments, complex laundering methods, and tighter regulatory expectations from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), not all AML software will make the cut.

In this blog, we break down the top 10 AML software features that financial institutions in Singapore should prioritise — and why getting these right can make all the difference between reactive compliance and proactive risk management.

1. Real-Time Transaction Monitoring

Time is critical when detecting suspicious activity. A strong AML solution must offer real-time transaction monitoring across all payment channels, including digital wallets, cross-border transfers, and branch activity.

Why it matters:

• Prevents fraud before it completes
• Reduces the time to detect layering or structuring patterns
• Helps meet MAS expectations for timely alerting

Look for systems that can flag high-risk behaviour the moment it happens, not hours later.

2. Risk-Based Customer Profiling

Not all customers pose the same level of risk. That’s why AML software must support dynamic customer risk scoring.

Key capabilities:

• Customisable risk models based on occupation, geography, transaction behaviour, and PEP status
• Continuous risk updates based on new data
• Integration with onboarding and KYC processes

This feature enables a truly risk-based approach, which is core to FATF and MAS guidelines.

3. Advanced Name Screening and Sanctions Matching

Watchlist screening is non-negotiable. Your AML software must be able to check customer and transaction data against:

• Sanctions lists (UN, OFAC, EU)
• Politically exposed persons (PEPs)
• Adverse media sources
• Local regulatory lists such as those published by MAS

Bonus points for:

• Fuzzy matching logic to catch near-misses and aliases
• Low false positive rates
• Real-time and batch processing modes

4. Scenario-Based Typology Detection

Traditional rules like "flag all transactions over $10,000" are no longer sufficient. Banks in Singapore need AML software that detects real-world money laundering scenarios.

Features to look for:

• Built-in library of typologies (e.g., mule account flows, shell company layering, trade-based laundering)
• Ability to map multiple transaction patterns to one scenario
• Support for local and regional typologies relevant to Southeast Asia

This enables earlier and more accurate detection of suspicious activity.

5. AI-Powered Alert Optimisation

High alert volumes are the number one pain point for compliance teams. Software with machine learning capabilities can help by:

• Reducing false positives
• Learning from past decisions
• Improving alert prioritisation

Look for platforms that let AI handle the noise while your analysts focus on what truly matters.

6. End-to-End Case Management

Once an alert is generated, your team needs a seamless way to investigate, document, and close the case. That’s where robust case management comes in.

Important features include:

• Case creation linked to alerts
• Access to transaction history, customer profile, and risk factors in one place
• Assignment workflows and escalation paths
• Collaboration tools for team-based investigations

The best systems will also generate case timelines and store decisions for audit and reporting purposes.

7. Automated Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) Filing

In Singapore, AML software must support direct or indirect integration with GoAML for suspicious transaction reporting.

What to expect:

• Auto-populated STRs based on investigation data
• Export in required formats
• Digital submission compatibility with MAS systems
• Built-in STR review and approval workflow

This saves compliance officers time while ensuring accuracy and traceability.

8. Federated Intelligence Sharing

This is a game-changer. The ability to benefit from the typologies and red flags discovered by other banks — without sharing your customer data — gives institutions a significant edge.

The AFC Ecosystem, for example, allows institutions using Tookitaki’s FinCense platform to:

• Download new typologies contributed by other members
• Stay up to date with emerging scam methods in Southeast Asia
• Adapt faster to real threats without compromising data privacy

This collaborative intelligence model is fast becoming an industry standard.

9. Simulation and Threshold Tuning

Changing detection rules shouldn’t feel like guesswork. The right AML software will let you:

• Simulate a new rule or threshold before deploying it
• See how many alerts it would generate
• Compare against current system performance

This feature helps optimise detection coverage while managing alert volumes — critical for balancing compliance accuracy and operational efficiency.

10. Smart Investigation and Auto-Narration Tools

AI has made investigations faster and more consistent. Best-in-class AML platforms now include features like:

• FinMate-style AI copilots that assist analysts in summarising alerts
• Natural language generation to write STR narratives automatically
• Pattern recognition to link related cases

The result? Less time spent writing reports and more time focused on decision-making.

How These Features Come Together in FinCense by Tookitaki

Tookitaki’s FinCense platform has been purpose-built with all 10 features outlined above. Designed for the regulatory environment of Singapore and the wider Asia-Pacific region, FinCense enables:

• Real-time monitoring across multiple payment rails
• AI-driven scenario detection using regional typologies
• Smart disposition engines that recommend next steps
• Integration with MAS systems for STR filing
• Access to the AFC Ecosystem’s library of shared scenarios

The modular design allows banks to pick the features they need and scale as they grow. This makes FinCense ideal for digital banks, neobanks, traditional institutions, and payment platforms alike.

Why These Features Matter More Than Ever in Singapore

Singapore’s financial sector is evolving at speed. Between rapid digitalisation, cross-border transactions, and new scam typologies, compliance teams are facing more complexity than ever before.

MAS Expectations Are Rising

Regulators now expect:

• Timely and accurate STR filing
• Real-time risk detection and escalation
• Explainability in AI decision-making
• Ongoing refinement of detection models

Financial Crime Is Evolving

Typologies are becoming harder to detect. Examples include:

• Deepfake impersonation fraud targeting CFOs
• Layering through prepaid utilities and QR platforms
• Multi-jurisdictional mule networks

Resources Are Limited

Compliance teams are under pressure to do more with less. The right AML software features help automate, optimise, and scale operations without increasing headcount.

Checklist: Does Your AML Software Include These Features?

Use this 10-point checklist to evaluate your current system:

• Real-time monitoring?
• Risk-based profiling?
• Sanctions and PEP screening with fuzzy matching?
• Scenario-based detection?
• AI-powered alert reduction?
• Full case management and audit trail?
• STR automation and GoAML support?
• Intelligence sharing without compromising privacy?
• Rule simulation and tuning?
• AI tools for investigation and narration?

If your current software misses more than three of these, it may be time to upgrade.

Conclusion: Features That Drive Impact, Not Just Compliance

AML software is no longer just about ticking regulatory boxes. In today’s high-risk, high-speed financial environment, it must enable smarter decisions, faster actions, and stronger defences.

By focusing on the right features — and not just flashy dashboards or outdated rule sets — banks in Singapore can transform AML from a cost centre into a strategic capability.

Solutions like Tookitaki’s FinCense offer not just compliance, but competitive advantage. And in a landscape where trust is everything, that could be your biggest asset.

With scams costing Australians billions, financial fraud solutions are the backbone of trust in banking and payments.

Introduction

Fraud has become one of the defining challenges for Australia’s financial sector. The ACCC’s Scamwatch reported that Australians lost more than AUD 3 billion in 2024 to scams ranging from romance fraud and phishing to business email compromise and investment schemes. Banks, fintechs, and remittance providers are at the centre of this fight, tasked with protecting customers while meeting AUSTRAC’s strict compliance standards.

To stay ahead of fraudsters, institutions are turning to advanced financial fraud solutions. These systems combine real-time monitoring, artificial intelligence (AI), and case management tools to detect, prevent, and investigate fraud across multiple channels. In this blog, we explore what financial fraud solutions are, why they matter in Australia, and how institutions can choose the right ones to safeguard their customers.

What Are Financial Fraud Solutions?

Financial fraud solutions are technologies and frameworks that protect institutions from scams, account abuse, and illicit transactions. They typically include:

• Transaction Monitoring Systems to detect unusual activity.
• Authentication and Identity Verification Tools such as biometrics.
• Fraud Analytics and AI Models to spot anomalies in behaviour.
• Case Management Platforms to streamline investigations.
• Federated Intelligence for sharing typologies across the industry.

The best solutions bring these components together to provide end-to-end fraud prevention.

Why Financial Fraud Solutions Matter in Australia

1. Real-Time Payment Risks

The New Payments Platform (NPP) and PayTo have made instant transfers the norm. While convenient, they give fraudsters the same advantage — the ability to move funds before they can be recalled.

2. Scam Epidemic

Australians are being targeted by APP scams, romance fraud, and investment scams at record levels. Financial institutions are expected to step up protections.

3. AUSTRAC Compliance

AUSTRAC mandates strong monitoring and reporting frameworks under the AML/CTF Act 2006. Effective fraud solutions ensure compliance while protecting customers.

4. Reputation and Trust

A single high-profile fraud incident can permanently damage a bank’s reputation. Customers want to know their money is safe.

5. Operational Costs

False positives and manual investigations drive up compliance costs. Advanced solutions reduce noise and improve efficiency.

Major Fraud Risks in the Australian Market

1. Authorised Push Payment (APP) Scams
   Victims are tricked into sending money to fraudsters posing as trusted parties.
2. Account Takeover (ATO)
   Cybercriminals gain access to legitimate accounts through phishing or malware.
3. Mule Networks
   Criminals recruit individuals to move funds across borders.
4. Business Email Compromise (BEC)
   Fraudsters impersonate suppliers or executives to redirect payments.
5. Synthetic Identities
   Fraudsters use a mix of real and fake data to create new identities for account fraud.
6. Trade-Based Laundering
   Over- and under-invoicing of goods to disguise illicit flows through cross-border payments.

Red Flags Financial Fraud Solutions Detect

• Multiple transactions just below AUSTRAC reporting thresholds.
• New accounts with immediate high-value transfers.
• Customers resisting verification or providing incomplete documentation.
• Unusual login behaviour, such as device or location changes.
• Frequent payments to high-risk jurisdictions.
• Accounts with rapid pass-through activity and minimal balances.

Core Features of the Best Financial Fraud Solutions

1. Real-Time Monitoring

Detects suspicious activity across NPP, PayTo, cards, and remittance channels instantly.

2. AI and Machine Learning

Adaptive models learn from new typologies to reduce false positives and strengthen detection.

3. Behavioural Analytics

Monitors customer behaviour across devices, apps, and transactions.

4. Integrated Case Management

Investigators receive full context and streamlined workflows for resolving alerts.

5. Sanctions and Screening Integration

Ensures transactions comply with global and AUSTRAC watchlists.

6. Federated Intelligence

Shares anonymised scenarios across institutions to fight fraud collectively.

7. Regulatory Reporting

Automates SMRs, TTRs, and IFTIs for AUSTRAC with full audit trails.

Challenges in Implementing Fraud Solutions

• Legacy Systems: Many banks still rely on outdated monitoring tools.
• Data Silos: Fragmented platforms prevent a unified view of risk.
• High Costs: Advanced solutions can be expensive for smaller operators.
• Alert Overload: Poorly calibrated systems overwhelm compliance teams.
• Evolving Threats: Fraudsters constantly adapt to bypass detection.

Case Example: Community-Owned Banks Fighting Fraud

Community-owned banks like Regional Australia Bank and Beyond Bank are demonstrating that advanced fraud solutions are achievable at any scale. By adopting AI-powered compliance platforms, they have reduced false positives, strengthened AUSTRAC reporting, and enhanced customer trust without the budgets of Tier-1 banks.

Spotlight: Tookitaki’s FinCense

FinCense, Tookitaki’s all-in-one compliance platform, delivers advanced financial fraud solutions tailored to the Australian market.

• Real-Time Fraud Detection: Covers NPP, PayTo, cross-border, and card channels.
• Agentic AI: Continuously adapts to new scams and laundering typologies.
• Federated Intelligence: Leverages insights from the AFC Ecosystem for stronger fraud detection.
• FinMate AI Copilot: Assists investigators with summarised alerts and regulator-ready reports.
• AUSTRAC Compliance: Automates reporting with complete transparency.
• Cross-Channel Protection: Unified monitoring for banking, remittances, cards, wallets, and more.

By integrating AI, federated intelligence, and case management, FinCense helps Australian institutions fight fraud while reducing costs.

Best Practices for Banks in Australia

1. Adopt Real-Time Monitoring: Fraudsters exploit instant payments. Monitoring must match the speed of transactions.
2. Insist on Explainable AI: Every alert must be defensible to AUSTRAC.
3. Integrate Across Channels: Connect transaction monitoring, onboarding, and case management.
4. Focus on Customer Experience: Fraud detection should protect without adding unnecessary friction.
5. Collaborate with Industry Peers: Join federated learning networks to share intelligence safely.
6. Engage Regulators Early: Proactive dialogue with AUSTRAC builds trust.

The Future of Financial Fraud Solutions in Australia

1. Deeper PayTo Coverage
   Fraud solutions must evolve to detect scams tied to overlay services.
2. AI-Powered Investigations
   Copilots like FinMate will take on larger parts of the investigative process.
3. Industry-Wide Fraud Databases
   Shared insights will help stop fraud before it spreads across banks.
4. Advanced Biometrics
   Facial and behavioural biometrics will strengthen onboarding defences.
5. Balance Between Security and UX
   Future fraud systems will prioritise seamless experiences alongside robust protection.

Conclusion

Fraud is one of the most pressing challenges for Australian banks, fintechs, and payment providers. With scams evolving faster than ever, the right financial fraud solutions are critical to maintaining customer trust and meeting AUSTRAC’s strict standards.

Community-owned banks like Regional Australia Bank and Beyond Bank prove that advanced fraud defences are possible at any scale. Platforms like Tookitaki’s FinCense deliver the AI-powered, regulator-ready solutions institutions need to fight fraud effectively and sustainably.

Pro tip: The best financial fraud solutions are not just reactive. They predict, adapt, and collaborate to stop fraud before it causes harm.