On 5 November, the CFI held an in-person training session in Chernihiv titled “FATF and Money Mules: International Experience and the Ukrainian Context” as part of the UPLIFT training programme. The seminar was organised for students and lecturers of the Penitentiary Academy of Ukraine in cooperation with the NGO “Union of Women of Chernihiv“. The participants included future specialists in security, law, and the financial sector.

During the event, experts from the CFI shared up-to-date information on the activities of money mules — individuals who knowingly or unknowingly transfer funds obtained through illegal means. Attendees learnt about the approaches used by international organisations, including the FATF (Financial Action Task Force), to identify and prevent such schemes. The experts examined typical signs of money-mule recruitment, modern channels used for targeting individuals (social media, phishing attacks, fake job postings), and common patterns of fund movement.

Particular attention was given to the Ukrainian context, especially the impact of the full-scale war on the growing risks of financial fraud. Participants explored money-laundering schemes involving money mules and reviewed examples of suspicious activity, learning how to analyse common risk indicators and determine the proper course of action when suspecting involvement in a money-mule scheme.

The purpose of the training was not only to share knowledge, but also to foster an understanding of the importance of financial integrity in the context of national security. Raising awareness among students and lecturers helps strengthen the culture of financial monitoring and develop competencies in compliance, anti-money-laundering, and counter-terrorist financing.

The Centre for Financial Integrity continues to expand its cooperation with educational institutions and civil society organisations to help cultivate a generation of specialists capable of effectively countering financial crime and safeguarding the interests of the state and society.