Red flag multiple forex transactions: CVC to RBI,IBA

The CVC has asked RBI and Indian Banks' Association (IBA) to red flag multiple transactions of smaller amounts from a single account and ensure compliance of KYC norms to check fraudulent forex transactions in the wake alleged Rs 6,100 crore foreign remittance scam through Bank of Baroda, a top official said today.

"We have written to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to say that if smaller forex transactions of less than one lakh dollars are being made than it should come to your notice," Vigilance Commissioner T M Bhasin told reporters here.

He said similar communication has been sent to IBA chief, saying there may be "attempts to camouflage generation of alerts by sending small amount of money through multiple transactions of foreign exchange abroad. We have told RBI and IBA that they should tell banks to red flag transactions of smaller amount from one account."

At present, an alert is generated only when foreign exchange (forex) remittance is over one lakh dollars.

"IBA has also been asked to tell all member banks that they follow Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money laundering (AMl) guidelines so as to check reoccurence of such (Bank of Baroda case) incidents," he said.

On the recent forex scam in which about Rs 6,100 crore were remitted to Hong Kong allegedly misusing Bank of Baroda, Bhasin said Enforcement Directorate (ED) has been asked to look into the matter and if these were not genuine transactions then they should work on repatriation of the money.