Video 3 – What to consider when submitting a suspicious transaction report
From: Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC)
The third video (of a series of 3) explaining the important factors that businesses should consider when submitting a suspicious transaction report to FINTRAC.
Video
Video length: 4:27 minutes
Catalogue number: FD4-44/2025E-MP4
ISBN: 978-0-660-75946-3
Descriptive transcript of the video “Video 3 – What to consider when submitting a suspicious transaction report”
| Slide # | Narration (audio) | On screen description (text or image) |
|---|---|---|
1 |
Music: A music track with a subtle, serious tone begins full volume, then lowers to the background as the narration begins. |
Animation: the FINTRAC logo appears on a white background along with the opening title: What to consider when submitting The opening scenes unfolds as they did in video one of the series, slowly reveal a dark blue digital realm layered underneath. |
2 |
The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada is Canada's financial intelligence unit and anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing supervisor. Businesses subject to the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act must report completed or attempted suspicious transactions to FINTRAC when there are reasonable grounds to suspect that the transaction is related to a money laundering, terrorist financing or sanctions evasion offence. This can be done by submitting a suspicious transaction report, commonly referred to as an STR. This video looks at some important factors to consider when submitting a suspicious transaction report to FINTRAC. |
Animation: as the diamond shapes travel across the white frame, the title disappears leaving the organization’s name which emerges alongside the logo. Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (morphs to) FINTRAC FINTRAC remains as the bands of colour progress all the way across the white background to fully reveal the dark blue digital realm underneath. Money laundering (i.e., a bag with currency and bitcoin icons inside it) and terrorist financing icons (i.e., a silhouette with caution symbol) float alongside the words reasonable grounds to suspect. A collection of high-tech boxes materializes in front of the dark blue background. Text appears on this “deconstructed” digital depiction of the report. It reads: suspicious transaction report. The letters str lift off the report and become capitalized. STR floats in the foreground, then disappears. The report becomes the prominent layer. |
3 |
As a regulated business, your compliance policies and procedures must include details on the process for how you identify, assess, and submit suspicious transaction reports to FINTRAC. |
Animation: everything disappears in the digital blue realm except the suspicious transaction report which floats in the foreground. A star-like dot in the background begins to zoom toward the foreground, enlarging into a translucent circle as it approaches. Words are written across it: Compliance policies and procedures The three words, Identify, Assess, and Submit emerge from the circle and float around the report. |
4 |
You are required to submit the suspicious transaction report as soon as practicable. This means a time period that falls in-between immediately and as soon as possible. The completion and submission of the STR should take priority over other tasks. As a best practice, in situations involving time-sensitive information, such as suspected terrorist financing and threats to national security, FINTRAC encourages you to expedite the submission of your suspicious transaction report. |
Animation: everything evaporates away except a small icon version of the report. A glowing digital clock appears beside it. The hands of the clock sweep halfway around, wiping into view the text: As soon as practicable. The report becomes enveloped in a green 3D frame marked Prioritized. The hands of the clock revolve another half rotation, wiping into view more text: Within a reasonable time period. The frame around icon of the report glows red and the text changes from Prioritized to Time-sensitive. The terrorist financing and national security (shield and star) icons hover around the report. The hands on the clock speed up, make a full rotation, and sweep away existing text, replacing it with Expedite. |
5 |
To avoid tipping off the client, you are not allowed to inform anyone, including the client, about the contents of a suspicious transaction report, or that you have submitted or will be submitting such a report. This applies to your assessments that are ongoing or pending. Take precautions when seeking information that you would not normally request during an interaction or transaction. FINTRAC expects that all of these practices be included in your compliance policies and procedures. |
Animation: everything evaporates except the icon of the report which becomes enfolded by digital spheres and encased inside a glowing lock. The words Ongoing and Pending circle inside the layers between the spheres. The word Precautions appears across the lock and migrates outside the spheres towards a high-tech search window where the word Information is being typed. The word Precautions circles the search window. Everything dissolves away as the translucent circle with Compliance policies and procedures written across it re-appears (from scene 3). |
6 |
When submitting a suspicious transaction report, your report must be complete and accurate. Be sure to use clear and concise language and to avoid jargon, such as terms and acronyms specific to your organization. |
Animation: the circle disappears as the digital depiction of the suspicious transaction report reappears (from scene 1). The report floats in the background as lines emit from various parts of it, connecting to text hovering in the foreground. The text appears in this order (and timed to the narration): Complete Accurate Clear and concise language Avoid jargon, terms and acronyms |
7 |
It is important to include all of the factors that support your assessment and conclusion that a money laundering, terrorist financing or sanctions evasion offence has possibly occurred. |
Animation: as the text above disappears, a web-like vector map begins to branch out from the report toward interconnected icons featuring currency, money laundering and terrorist financing, groups and individuals. |
8 |
In the “Details of suspicion” section of the report, Include the factors that raised suspicion,… …such as unusual transactions, dealings with sanctioned entities, questionable sources of funds, atypical customer behaviour, and unclear or overly complex business ownership structures, and false or suspicious documents that may be supporting criminal activities. |
Animation: the map disappears as the report is highlighted. A high-tech text box that says Factors that raised suspicion floats in front of the report. A second high tech box drops down from the first and hovers below it. One by one, text elements emerge from the digital report in the background, and zoom up and into this second box in the foreground, then zoom back, swapping places with the next text element, in this order (and timed to the narration): Unusual transactions Dealings with sanctioned entities Questionable sources of funds Atypical customer behaviour Unclear or overly complex False or suspicious documents |
9 |
The detailed factors that you provide are key to FINTRAC’s analysis and to the production of financial intelligence disclosures. More examples of these factors can be found on the FINTRAC website. |
Animation: the boxes disappear as the digital report rolls back into focus. The FINTRAC logo appears next to it, then a digital form called financial intelligence disclosure (script 1, scene 4) appears on the other side of the logo. Digital lines loop from the suspicious transaction report to the disclosure via the logo. Both digital documents disappear as a high-tech search bar emits from the logo. Inside the search bar the website fintrac-canafe.canada.ca is being typed. |
10 |
It is important to note that you will not be prosecuted for submitting a suspicious transaction report to FINTRAC in good faith. |
Animation: the search bar retracts and disappears as a high-tech button appears next to the logo marked Submit suspicious transaction report. A high-tech text box floats nearby that says: Note: You will not be prosecuted for |
11 |
Money laundering, terrorist financing and sanctions evasion jeopardize our financial system's integrity and damage the Canadian economy. They fuel corruption, eroding public institutions and impacting government revenues and international credibility. By complying with your legal obligations, you are deterring criminals, protecting the legitimate economy and targeting the organized networks threatening Canadians. You are also helping FINTRAC gather insights on patterns, vulnerabilities and emerging threats within Canada’s financial system. And you are helping to enhance the reputation of regulated businesses while building trust with customers, shareholders and regulators. |
Animation: The red lines begin to transform into stock charts that start to break apart, shudder and rematerialize. The money laundering and terrorist financing icons are joined by icons for corruption and government erosion (i.e. an envelope of money and a crumbling government building). The depiction of the suspicious transaction report enters the frame causing all of the icons to disappear as the stock chart stabilizes. The images transform into a digital map of Canada that glows with crisscrossing lines, patterns, and flashing alerts. Instead of icons, text layers across the map, timed to the narrator: Helping to enhance the reputation of regulated businesses Building trust with customers, shareholders, and regulators |
12 |
We all have a role to play in the detection, prevention and deterrence of money laundering, terrorist financing and sanctions evasion. Stay up to date on current money laundering and terrorist financing indicators, and sanctions evasion characteristics, emerging risks and threats, news and more by visiting our website at fintrac-canafe.canada.ca |
Animation: the images transform into a circling globe. The money laundering and terrorist financing icons float around it. Closing motion graphic title: Learn more at: fintrac-canafe.canada.ca Canada wordmark |
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