Wanted Individuals Make Poor Employees And Associates
Gone are the days of the FBIs most wanted list and public enemies being romanticized and admirable individuals. But, even when the public enemy number one was considered a media sweetheart, not many people were offering them jobs or a place around the dinner table. That being said, the folks that make these lists nowadays are far from being Robinhood-types and are not wanted anywhere around the world. Thus, when you run a government watch list check, you arent just protecting yourself, your employees and your customers from a seedy individual, youre helping the authorities track them down.
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- Office of Foreign Assets is searched for the following red flags.
- Specially designated nationals and blocked persons.
- Sanctioned countries records.
Is Your Name On A Government Watchlist
Today, the only way to find out if your name is on a list is to act on your suspicions. Here are ways to tell if your name is on a government watchlist: File for a passport and note if it is delayed. File an FOIA in your own name and see what comes back. Book a flight and see if you are prohibited from printing the boarding pass from home.
Specially Designated Nationals And Blocked Persons List Human Readable Lists
As part of its enforcement efforts, OFAC publishes a list of individuals and companies owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, targeted countries. It also lists individuals, groups, and entities, such as terrorists and narcotics traffickers designated under programs that are not country-specific. Collectively, such individuals and companies are called Specially Designated Nationals or SDNs. Their assets are blocked and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from dealing with them. View more information on Treasurys Sanctions Programs.
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Iprospectcheck: Your Trusted Partner For Government Watchlist Searches
Government watch list searches help companies screen out potentially dangerous individuals and those who have been debarred from working in certain industries.
Including these types of checks in your background screening process can help to protect the safety of your company and the clients you serve.
At iprospectcheck, we conduct government watch list searches for employers in all 50 states.
Contact us today to learn about our background check services and to receive a free quote:
DISCLAIMER: The resources provided here are for educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Consult your counsel if you have legal questions related to your specific practices and compliance with applicable laws.
Million Records From The Fbis Terrorist Watchlist Leaked Online

- A copy of the FBI TSC terrorist watchlist leaked online for three weeks.
- More than 1.9 million records were leaked, including data linked to the US No Fly List.
- Unclear if this was an authentic FBI server or one hosting an illegaly obtained copy.
A copy of the FBIs terrorist watchlist was exposed online for three weeks between July 19 and August 9, 2021, a security researcher revealed today.
Known as the FBI Terrorist Screening Center , the database was created in 2003 as a response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Managed by the FBI, the database contains the names and personal details of individuals who are known or reasonably suspected of being involved in terrorist activities.
While the database is managed by the FBI, the agency also provides access to it to several other US government agencies, including the Department of State, Department of Defense, the Transportation Security Authority, the Customs and Border Protection, and even some international law enforcement partners.
While the database contains data on suspected terrorists, it is also better known in popular culture as the US No Fly List, being primarily used by US authorities and international airlines to allow entry into the US or travel within its territory.
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What Is A Government Watchlist
A government watchlist is just a watchlist thats put together by the government rather than by a private entity. There are actually many government watchliststhe U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, and Treasury all have watchlists that may include different threats. Depending on what your business is about, you may need to use certain watchlists or all of them.One of the most comprehensive government watchlists is the FBIs Terrorist Screening Center watchlist, which allows you to look through individuals who may pose a domestic threat. This list is public and the U.S. Treasury updates it on a regular basis to include the most important individuals you might need to avoid.
Why Would Someone Be On A Government Watch List
Someone might be listed on a government watch list for any of the following reasons:
- Engaging in suspected terrorist activities
- Committing fraud against the government
- Committing Medicare or Medicaid fraud
- Being a fugitive from justice
- Committing violent, white collar, criminal enterprise, human trafficking, or cyber crimes
- Participating in international drug trafficking
- Working for a targeted country
- Engaging in export crimes
- Being convicted of crimes related to drug products
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The Bop Has Different Security Levels They Are:
- Federal Prison Camps minimum security facilities
- Federal Correctional Institutions low or medium security facilities
- United States Penitentiaries medium or high security facilities
- Federal Correctional Complexes Co-locations of BOP facilities and have different security locations and genders of inmates
Are You On A Federal Watch List
After learning of what happened in Orlando, Florida over the weekend, members of Congress held a 15 hour filibuster, pushing for a Senate vote on greater gun control.
Were hearing the terms watch list tossed around in the wake of the Orlando terror attack. The shooter, Omar Mateen, pledged allegiance to ISIS before opening fire and was investigated by federal authorities, put on a terror watch list and then removed. How do you get placed on one of these watch lists, and whats the purpose?
The American Civil Liberties Union reports there could be more than a dozen government watch lists out there, including the No-Fly List, Most Wanted List and Terrorist Exclusion List.
“Are you on a government watch list?” asked Reporter Bradford Arick.
“No? Not that I know of, replied Cade Hamilton.
“Does it concern you that you might be on one but you don’t’ know?” Arick asked.
“Well I fly a lot so I guess I would know by now if I was but I mean how am I supposed to know if I am?” countered Hamilton.
The government does not have to tell you youre listed. If youre on the No-Fly List for example, you simply cant board your flight and thats it, no explanation required.
For me I don’t really need to know. I’m not the person going out and chasing terrorists. I’m not scared in my everyday life that they’re going to come out and attack me, said Lindsay Breuler.
“I wouldn’t even know. How do you find out if you’re on one?” asked Patricia Lawson.
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What Information Is Obtained
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, OIG, excludes certain individuals and entities from participation in Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal health-care programs. The OIG imposes exclusions on over 15,000 individuals and entities based upon the authority contained in Sections 1128 and 1156 of the Social Security Act. Liberty will check the sanction database, which is updated monthly from data provided by the OIG, and contains 18 sanction types, comprised of over 50 categories.
Fact Sheet: Federal Watch Lists
Fact Sheet: Federal Watch Lists
FACT SHEETDepartment of Homeland Security Inspector General Agrees
The U.S. government has long developed and maintained various “watch lists”as part of national security and law enforcement efforts. However, in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, the scope and relevance of these lists has increased exponentially – and with it, serious implications for law-abiding citizens.
MULTIPLE LISTS, THOUSANDS OF NAMES BUT NO COORDINATION OR UNIFORMITY
The Washington Post reported on October 9, 2004 that the “federal government’s ‘no-fly’ list had 16 names on it on Sept. 11, 2001. Today, it has more than 20,000.” The numbers alone cause concern. But the way the lists are maintained and used presents grave challenges to civil liberties of all Americans.
According to a recently issued General Accounting Office report, the government maintains more than a dozen watch lists, including:
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Privacy And Civil Liberties: Nominations
The TSC works to protect privacy and civil liberties at all steps in the watchlisting process. To add a person to the watchlist, specific intelligence-related criteria must be met. Only government agencies can nominate someone to the terrorism watchlist. You cannot nominate someone you know. No one can be added to the watchlist based on:
- Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board
What Is A Global Watch List Screening Solution

In order to screen customers and transactions against the relevant global watchlists, firms should develop and implement a sanctions screening solution as part of their wider AML/CFT program which should include robust Know Your Customer processes to establish and verify the identities of customers.
Sanctions solutions should be updated regularly with the latest designations and should accommodate the unique challenges of watchlist screening, including recognition of non-Western naming conventions and non-Latinate characters, and the use of nicknames and aliases. In order to manage the vast data collection and analysis requirements of sanctions screening, firms should also seek to integrate a suitable software platform in order to add automated speed and accuracy to the process, and to reduce the potential for human error during manual watchlist checks.
With those considerations in mind, a sanctions screening solution should be supported by the following measures and controls:
Build real-time data, automated speed, and cutting-edge machine learning technology into your sanctions screening solution with ComplyAdvantages dynamic watchlist screening tool.
Screen Against the Global Watch List
Build real-time data, automated speed, and cutting-edge machine learning technology into your sanctions screening solution with ComplyAdvantages dynamic watchlist screening tool.
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Merchant, an American citizen, is among the many people on America’s terrorist screening watchlist, a database containing information about individuals targeted as known or suspected of being involved in terrorist activities, according to the FBI.
The watchlist was created in response to the Sept. 11 attacks, and since then, has collected over 1.6 million identities, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. There’s no due process for people added to it, nor any official way to find out who has been added, according to human rights lawyers.
The random security checks started happening more frequently after her first detainment, according to Merchant. Hourslong detentions, fear and extensive questioning have become a familiar experience for Merchant and her family when traveling.
“, we had always been detained, we’d always been questioned and it stopped being random when you knew that every time you travel, my entire family, including the children, were asked to step aside, escorted by the TSA officers,” she said. “It just ended up becoming this traumatic thing for us to ever fly again.”
Unlike the “no-fly” list, the watchlist still allows people to fly. They are, however, subject to extra security, extensive questioning and hourslong detentions when flying or crossing the border.
Nering With A Reliable Third Party Background Check Provider
The best way to conduct government watch list checks is to partner with a reliable background check company like iprospectcheck.
Our extensive access to watch lists and government databases allows us to quickly confirm whether your applicants are included on any lists.
We also verify the listed individuals are the same people as the candidates we check to prevent potential problems.
We also conduct many other types of employment background checks, including employment verification, education verification, professional license verification, criminal history searches, and more.
When you work with us, you can be confident that the results you receive are accurate, up-to-date, and fully compliant with the Fair Credit Reporting Act and other relevant employment background check laws.
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What The Terrorism Watchlist Is Not Used For
Some people who are denied certain services, like a loan or credit decision, may be told they are on a watchlist.If you are told this, this does not mean you are on the U.S. governments terrorist watchlist. The terrorism watchlist is never used to make decisions on financial matters, such as:
- Loan/credit decisions
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“I said, ‘absolutely not. You know, I’m a mom. I’m not a spy. I don’t care if I’m going to be on this . I’m just not going to do this,'” Merchant said.
In response to an ABC News request for comment, the FBI said the Terrorist Screening Center could neither deny nor confirm whether an individual is on the watchlist.
After the conversation, Merchant said the situation got progressively worse.
“There was a time when they took my laptop and they released the whole bomb squad on me at the airport. There was a time when dogs were unleashed on me. They took out a whole team of dogs to search me,” Merchant said.
The most traumatic and humiliating experience for Merchant, however, was at the Boston Logan International Airport â when she said she had her period and the TSA officers forced her to remove her pants during a private screening.
“That day, they were trying to strip me of my dignity when they didn’t believe that I was on my period. Even though I went on through the scan, everything was clear,” she said.
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Contact An Attorney If You Are Placed On A No Fly List In Error
The DHS TRIP process is designed to help those who have been delayed or detained in error because their names are like those who are on the list. In a few cases, however, people who are not terrorists have discovered themselvesas themselveson lists, without the opportunity to figure out why . If you are in this rare situation, contact your attorney for further steps.
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With all of the challenges faced, Nur has filed a lawsuit against the FBI with the ââCouncil on American-Islamic Relations , a Muslim civil rights group, in hopes to have his name removed from the watch list. The process, if successful, could take years, according to his lawyer.
Merchant says she was able to get her name off the list after she confronted TSA and FBI officers during a closed-door meeting she was invited to in Orlando in 2018.
Now, Merchant hopes to use her experience to help others and shine a light on the issue.
“I don’t fear this anymore,” she said. “It built me up to be that voice for people who don’t have any. Even though I might be off the system, I am not really free until every one of them gets justice.”
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Concrete Facts Are Not Necessary
The five chapters and 11 appendices of the Watchlisting Guidance are filled with acronyms, legal citations, and numbered paragraphs it reads like an arcane textbook with a vocabulary all its own. Different types of data on suspected terrorists are referred to as derogatory information,substantive derogatory information,extreme derogatory information and particularized derogatory information. The names of suspected terrorists are passed along a bureaucratic ecosystem of originators,nominators,aggregators,screeners, and encountering agencies. And upgrade, usually a happy word for travellers, is repurposed to mean that an individual has been placed on a more restrictive list.
The heart of the document revolves around the rules for placing individuals on a watchlist. All executive departments and agencies, the document says, are responsible for collecting and sharing information on terrorist suspects with the National Counterterrorism Center. It sets a low standardreasonable suspicionfor placing names on the watchlists, and offers a multitude of vague, confusing, or contradictory instructions for gauging it. In the chapter on Minimum Substantive Derogatory Criteriaeven the title is hard to digestthe key sentence on reasonable suspicion offers little clarity:
There are a number of loopholes for putting people onto the watchlists even if reasonable suspicion cannot be met.
Travel To Certain Countries

Frequent trips to a known trouble spot can raise a red flag. If you travel to certain places, the likelihood is you get more scrutiny, says Mann. If you travel frequently to countries that are known to be involved in terrorism or financial crimes, you do run the risk of having your travels alerted more carefully.
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