Conducting Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks with SmartSearch

In order to comply with the HMRC money laundering regulations, Alto caters for Automated checks (using SmartSearch and/or Thirdfort) as well as Manual checks.

Alto's integration with SmartSearch aims to simplify anti-money laundering checks, letting you carry the checks out more reliably and quicker, saving you time and the need to rekey information. This means your agency is better protected against fraud and money laundering.

With SmartSearch, you're able to:

• Conduct AML checks from within Alto, allowing you to carry out your checks seamlessly without leaving the page, providing instant results
• Store and view information about previous AML checks you've carried out
• Report on all records that haven't had AML checks completed

Setting up SmartSearch Anti-money laundering checks

The Automated check is powered by SmartSearch, Experian and Equifax. 

You'll enter into an agreement directly with SmartSearch in order to run the AML check (they also provide OFSI sanctions checks), and you'll also receive their contact and support details should you have any queries.

Conducting Anti-money laundering checks with SmartSearch

1. Click Contacts on the main navigation bar
2. Select the relevant contact from Recent & Favourite Contacts
   1. Alternatively, find the contact using the Search Contacts bar in the top right
3. Click Contact on the side menu
4. Click the Compliance top tab
5. In the Automated checks section, click Start a Smartsearch check
6. An Anti-Money Laundering check page opens up within Alto. Enter the Date of birth for the contact
   (the contacts name is automatically pulled from their Alto contact record)
7. Tick the checkbox for I confirm I've seen ID for xxxx to validate you've seen the relevant document (Drivers Licence or Passport)
8. Check the contacts Home address is correct. Click the pencil to edit the address fields, if required
   (the contacts address is automatically pulled from their Alto contact record)
9. Click Confirm details
   
10. Review the details then click Start check. The check (which is powered by SmartSearch, Experian and Equifax) runs and provides instant results, which are automatically documented in Alto
11. Click Download PDF to download the results (if required by agency practices), otherwise, click Close
    

Reviewing results & ensuring that AML checks have been completed

Whether you've conducted a SmartSearch check or not, there are two methods you can follow to ensure that Anti-money laundering checks have been completed. 

• The first method is via the individual contact record

Within the Compliance top tab, the Automated checks section lets you view a list of previously requested checks. This includes who Requested the check along with the date and time, the Person the check was carried out on, their Associated property, the Status and Type of check, and finally the Details of the check. 

If you click View Details, you can view the results of the check, and download the full breakdown of the check in .pdf format.

When a check is completed, an entry is placed within the Automated checks section and on the Timeline to record that this action has been taken.

• The second method encompasses multiple contacts

There is a match group that you can use which reports any contacts who have active offers, but haven't yet had the details completed. To find the match group:

1. Click Contacts on the main navigation bar
2. Click Groups in the top left
3. In Default Groups in the top left, click AML Checks
4. You have the choice between 4 dropdown menu filters:
   1. Contact Type - Landlords, Vendors
   2. Branches - All Branches, Individual Branch
   3. Stage - All, Instructed, Available, Pending Offers, Offers Accepted, Completed/Let
   4. Consent - All Contacts, With General Marketing, With Property Matching, With Both

If required, you can slide the toggle alongside AML Checks to pin a list of contacts. Pinning a list of contacts will mean:

• This exact list of contacts will be saved until you later decide to unpin it
• Alto will remember your current position in this list
• You can save a description by which to remember this list

You can then expand the group and work through the group.

• Related Help Centre articles that you may find useful.

  Conducting Thirdfort ID, AML & Proof of Ownership checks for owners & buyers

  Conducting manual Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks

  Conducting OFSI checks