Real-Name Financial Violation

The real-name principle prohibits the use of borrowed or fictitious names in financial dealings, establishing a foundation of trust within the financial sector. Banks, credit unions, and all financial institutions are obligated to verify the identity of individuals prior to any account creation or transaction approval, focusing heavily on preventing real-name financial violations.

This strict verification requirement helps prevent money laundering, tax evasion, identity theft, and other financial crimes, safeguarding the system from abuse. It is enforced under both New York’s Banking Law and federal-level regulations like the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), both of which impose serious penalties for non-compliance concerning real-name financial violations.

In limited cases, identity verification is not strictly enforced, though these exceptions are rare and highly regulated. These include:

• Utility bill and tax payments made in cash
• Wire transfers under $1,000 for domestic purposes
• Certain one-time foreign currency exchanges under $1,000

While these exceptions exist, they are narrowly construed and subject to strict recordkeeping and suspicious activity monitoring by the institution to prevent their exploitation for real-name financial violations.

Using another person’s identity to open or operate a financial account is classified under various offenses, depending on intent and the resulting harm. This type of real-name financial violation can carry severe penalties:

• Identity Theft (New York Penal Law §190.78–§190.80-A): Punishable by up to 7 years imprisonment, depending on the degree of the offense.
• Scheme to Defraud (§190.65): Involving intent to obtain funds through deception, which is frequently charged alongside identity theft in cases of real-name financial violations.
• Money Laundering (Penal Law §470): If the false identity is used to conceal the origin of illegal funds, this represents one of the most serious forms of real-name financial violations.

Employees or agents of financial institutions who release private customer data without written consent can face prosecution under both state and federal laws concerning confidentiality. This unauthorized sharing constitutes a serious breach and a real-name financial violation:

• New York General Business Law §899-aa: Protects personally identifiable financial data held by businesses operating in the state.
• Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (15 U.S.C. §6801): This is the key federal law prohibiting unauthorized sharing of nonpublic personal information by financial institutions.

Maximum penalties for institutions include criminal fines up to $500,000, and responsible individuals can face significant terms of imprisonment for facilitating these real-name financial violations.

Over the past several years, hundreds of individuals in New York have faced prosecution for crimes involving false financial identities, indicating a sustained focus by law enforcement. The enforcement actions are often concentrated on specific areas where real-name financial violations are most prevalent.

The most common violations involved:

• Use of false names in opening bank accounts for fraud rings, often targeting vulnerable populations.
• Disclosure of client data to external debt collectors without consent, a significant breach of privacy and a real-name financial violation.
• Transfers exceeding $10,000 made using proxy accounts to avoid IRS scrutiny, which falls under anti-money laundering enforcement.

Some individuals unknowingly become complicit in real-name financial violations, particularly in romance scams or when acting as "money mules" for international criminal organizations. In these situations, legal defense may emphasize the lack of mens rea, or criminal intent, a crucial element for conviction:

• Lack of fraudulent intent or knowledge of the illegal scheme
• Evidence of coercion or manipulation by true perpetrators
• Prompt cooperation with authorities upon learning of the real-name financial violations

Voluntary self-reporting to the New York State Department of Financial Services or federal agencies (e.g., FinCEN) can serve as a significant mitigating factor in sentencing, even when a real-name financial violation has occurred. Returning misused funds, providing full statements to investigators, and aiding in broader investigations are also considered favorably in plea deals and sentencing hearings, demonstrating remorse and a commitment to remediation.