TD Fraud, China Sanctions, and FTI Foul

Illicit Edge - Edition for June 2, 2026

In partnership with

Greetings! It’s June 2, and we’re tracking today’s top stories: Former TD Bank worker pleads guilty to fraud, bribery scheme costing $3.4M; China team drafts sanctions list targeting US, allies on 63 key tech sectors; FTI Consulting Settles with OFAC for $1,050,000 over Russia; How New Jersey father-daughter art fraudsters passed off $2M Picasso, Warhol, Banksy forgeries to galleries; and much more…

***

Share the knowledge!
Tell a friend to subscribe to Illicit Edge here.

🎯 FEATURED STORY

Former TD Bank worker pleads guilty to fraud, bribery scheme costing $3.4M. Lam exploited his position at TD Bank between January and May 2021 to identify accounts with large balances and steal confidential customer information, which he then passed to outside co-conspirators who used it to drain customer accounts. Washington Times

🔥 TOP STORIES

China team drafts sanctions list targeting US, allies on 63 key tech sectors South China Morning Post

FTI Consulting, Inc. Settles with OFAC for $1,050,000 Related to Apparent Violations of Dealing in Prohibited Debt of Sanctioned Russian Bank U.S. Treasury

How New Jersey father-daughter art fraudsters passed off $2M Picasso, Warhol, Banksy forgeries to galleries NY Post

Wise under investigation over money laundering control concerns BBC

How Anonymous Wikipedia Editors Influence Global Narratives — and AI Systems Cipher Brief

US strike on alleged drug smuggling boat kills 3 in eastern Pacific NY Post

Italy busts money-laundering ring tied to mafia boss Messina Denaro Reuters

EU Seeks to Keep an Oil Windfall Out of Russia’s Hands Bloomberg

France seizes Russian suspected shadow fleet vessel Politico

Exposed IRGC operative shutters Turkish aviation front as hundreds of Iranian-linked companies remain active Nordic Monitor

Rising stablecoin use could cement dollar dominance, ECB's Schnabel says Reuters

Financial fraud in an era of blockchain and AI Fortune

SEC sues Privvy founder over $12.3 million crypto scheme as AI 'bots' turn out to be neither The Block

Dutch Authorities Dismantle Botnet Linked to 17 Million Infected Devices Hacker News

The Terrorist Threat to the 2026 World Cup CSIS

Warnings of Human Trafficking Issued for 2026 FIFA World Cup OCCRP

IN THE NEWS

🚩 RUSSIA & CHINA

Chinese Military Sought Nvidia Chips for Years NYT

US takes step to halt Nvidia AI chip shipments to Chinese firms outside China Reuters

Chinese scientists create ‘kill-them-all’ algorithm for drone warfare South China Morning Post

Growing US reliance on Chinese biotechs prompts national security fears Financial Times

For Exposing China’s Repression, Women Are Targeted With Deepfake AI Newsweek

The IT strategy every team needs for 2026

2026 will redefine IT as a strategic driver of global growth. Automation, AI-driven support, unified platforms, and zero-trust security are becoming standard, especially for distributed teams. This toolkit helps IT and HR leaders assess readiness, define goals, and build a scalable, audit-ready IT strategy for the year ahead. Learn what’s changing and how to prepare.

🚀 SANCTIONS

Leaked documents link Chinese firms to IRGC missile fuel network Iran International

When sanctions stop working Le Monde

‘Extremist’ Israeli ministers face EU sanctions push Politico

Data reveals Irish alumina factory exporting more product to Russia than government claimed Kyiv Independent

💥 TERROR

U.S. tax dollars found funding 'pro-Hamas' protests Washington Times

The Jihadist Wave in West Africa Lawfare

The Hidden Network That Fueled Terror in Northern Syria Small Wars Journal

Brazil’s New ‘Terrorist’ Groups - the PCC and Red Command - Explained InSight Crime

💸 CORRUPTION & FINANCIAL CRIME

Prominent Short Seller Andrew Left Convicted of Fraud WSJ

CIA officer accused of stealing gold bars was no low-level agent NBC News

Mexico Mayor Arrested as Extortion Crackdown Continues Bloomberg

Philippine senator arrested in flood control scandal RFI

Swiss finance ministry appeals decision to scrap fine on ex-Credit Suisse executive Reuters

Bribery, fraud case targets contracts tied to Army innovation hub in Hawaii Stars and Stripes

Fraudsters bought game-worn Kobe Bryant sneakers and Ferraris with taxpayer funds CBS News

🔐 CRYPTO & CYBER

How Iran’s military harnesses ChatGPT Financial Times

Anthropic invites EU to access Mythos hacking tech Politico

OpenAI offers rival AI to UK banks blocked from Claude Mythos BBC

Hackers Are Using the Same Conversational Tricks on AI that Con Artists Use on People Breitbart

Fed’s Waller Says Stablecoins to Broaden Reach of US Policy Bloomberg

Palo Alto GlobalProtect VPN auth bypass flaw now exploited in attacks BleepingComputer

Polymarket is trying to block VPNs Mashable

🚚 TRAFFICKING

“No One Is Watching”: How Trump Reversed Biden’s Crackdown on Gun Trafficking ProPublica

Spanish raids unveil migrant smuggling network from Algeria to Europe Brussels Times

Chile warns of new criminal routes through Strait of Magellan UPI

Mexico cops discover massive tunnel into America from Tijuana -- and it was hidden in plain sight NYP

Suspected smugglers, $6.7M in cocaine found on boat off Cape Florida, USCG says NBC

“In politics it is necessary either to betray one's country or the electorate. I prefer to betray the electorate.” —Charles de Gaulle

Share Illicit Edge with friends!

They can subscribe here for free and never miss a story.