The World Cup: A magnet for financial crime

When the FIFA World Cup starts, the world comes together in celebration. However, while fans are focused on the games, criminal networks see an opportunity. Human traffickers, fraudsters, money launderers and even terrorist financiers are aware that major events like this create an ideal environment for their activities: millions of visitors, billions of dollars in transactions and infrastructure that is often stretched to its limits.

This is not speculation. History has demonstrated that global sporting events often attract a significant amount of illicit activity. For financial institutions (FIs), law enforcement (LE), and businesses, the World Cup represents more than just a tournament; it serves as a real-time stress test of your defenses. The question is not if risks will arise, but rather whether you are prepared to confront them directly.

Why the World Cup attracts financial crime

These conditions do not only create crime; they also amplify it. Trafficking, fraud, money laundering and terrorist financing converge in ways that overwhelm unprepared institutions.

Global events concentrate vulnerabilities in ways criminals are quick to exploit because of the following circumstances:

• Massive inflows of money: Cross-border transactions, remittances, betting and ticketing
• Sudden surges in mobility: Millions of travelers creating unprecedented demand for accommodation, transport and entertainment
• Informal shadow markets: Pop-up vendors, unregulated services and cash-heavy economies
• Digital anonymity: Prepaid cards, wallet and rapid remittances masking illicit finance

Flags that cannot be ignored

It is important to stay vigilant. As the saying goes, “If you see something, say something.” During a FIFA Club World Cup event in Miami, authorities reported nine arrests, with three survivors rescued from trafficking situations.¹

Here are some not-so-obvious red flags for which to look:

Human trafficking (HT) and exploitation

• Large hotel or short-term rental blocks paid in cash or prepaid instruments
• Payments spiking at escort services or “temporary entertainment” businesses
• Structured small-value remittances flowing out of host cities to high-risk corridors
• Young or vulnerable account holders under obvious third-party control and unexplained third-party control over documents or accounts
• Multiple accounts linked to the same device or contact information
• Rapid movement of funds inconsistent with client profile

Fraud and financial crime

• Fake ticketing websites that look indistinguishable from official FIFA portals
• Sharp increases in account takeover attempts and ATM fraud around host cities
• Charities with emotional appeals but no
  credible verification
• Business email compromise schemes spoofing sponsors, vendors and logistics partners

Terrorism and security financing

• Rapid cross-border transfers funneled into shell accounts near event venues
• Online crowdfunding campaigns that obscure extremist beneficiaries

These are red flags that should trigger scrutiny. For the well-prepared, they are opportunities to intervene. For the unprepared, they are openings that criminals will exploit.

Training your team: Moving beyond awareness

Training staff for the World Cup cannot be a “check-the-box” exercise. Criminal networks are sophisticated and adaptive and know how to exploit the weakest link in an institution’s defenses. To be effective, training must be targeted, scenario-driven and ongoing.

1. Tailor content by role: Front-line tellers and hospitality staff need short, practical red flag guides. Investigators and compliance officers require in-depth typology sessions and case studies. Executives should receive briefings focused on reputational and regulatory impact.
2. Use real case simulations: Generic slide decks are not enough. Walk teams through scenarios based on prior World Cup and Olympic events, such as identifying fake ticketing portals, bulk suspicious travel bookings or accounts controlled by a trafficker. Interactive training helps staff to recognize subtle patterns under pressure.
3. Prioritize a “see something, say something” culture: Staff must know not only what to look for, but also how to escalate concerns without fear of repercussion. Institutions should establish clear, fast escalation paths―whether to compliance units, fraud teams or designated liaisons.
4. Refresh and reinforce: Criminal tactics evolve rapidly. Training should not be a one-off event in the months before kickoff. Instead, deliver microtrainings, alerts and typology updates throughout the tournament to keep red flags fresh in staff minds.
5. Measure effectiveness: Track suspicious activity reports, staff escalations and feedback post-training. Use these metrics to refine programs in real time, closing gaps before criminals exploit them.

The following are some examples of training essentials for World Cup readiness:

• Scenario-driven exercises based on past mega-event cases
• Role-specific guides for front-line staff, investigators and executives
• Clear escalation protocols reinforced through practice
• Ongoing microtrainings and typology alerts during
  the event
• Feedback loops and metrics to measure effectiveness

Partnerships: The difference between success and failure

The World Cup is too big for any one institution to fight alone. Preparation must happen now. Academic research estimates the global sports industry may facilitate up to $140 billion annually in money laundering, given its large cash flows and opaque financial structures.²

FIs need to establish direct intelligence-sharing frameworks with LE. They should also update transaction monitoring rules to reflect event-specific typologies and conduct regular training for their teams on recognizing red flags. LE must embed liaisons into institutions, coordinate with foreign counterparts and shift from conducting investigations after the fact to implementing real-time interdictions. In addition, businesses―particularly in the hospitality, travel and gig economy sectors―should train their staff to identify signs of exploitation and establish clear escalation pathways, including options for anonymous reporting.

Events of this scale demand collective defense. Without it, the criminals win.

Here are some steps institutions can take to score some quick wins before the event:

• Update monitoring parameters for high-risk transactions
• Create a 24/7 escalation channel with local LE ([email protected])
• Issue sector-wide alerts on ticketing fraud and trafficking typologies
• Deliver refresher training to front-line teams

Bringing business leaders to the table

Compliance teams often know the risks but struggle to secure buy-in from executives. The World Cup provides a clear platform to change that narrative.

This is not just a compliance issue. It is a reputational and commercial issue. No brand wants to be associated with trafficking or fraud on the world stage. Regulators are increasingly holding businesses accountable for failing to identify and mitigate risks of exploitation. Investors are watching closely, aligning environmental, social and governance (ESG) expectations with human rights safeguards. History has already shown that businesses tied―even indirectly―to exploitation at major events can face years of reputational damage.

Leaders respond when risks are framed in business terms. Use the World Cup to make that case.

HT does not stand alone

HT is rarely an isolated issue; it is closely connected to other criminal markets. Cartels often use the same routes for transporting drugs and people. Victims are forced into fraud schemes including romance scams, call center operations and synthetic identity creation. In addition, terrorist groups exploit both the financial gains and the people involved in trafficking. Money laundering plays a crucial role in this network, utilizing casinos, betting operations, shell entities and trade to obscure illicit funds.

Compliance teams often know the risks but struggle to secure buy-in from executives

For investigators, this means that the signs of trafficking are often indicative of a larger, multi-crime ecosystem. Targeting this interconnected network is where true disruption can occur.

Conclusion: The call to action

The World Cup is not only a celebration of sport, but also a battleground for those fighting against fraud. Criminals are already planning their schemes―and it is essential for FIs, LE agencies and businesses to be equally prepared.

Strengthen your monitoring systems. Build strong partnerships. Train your teams effectively. Engage your leadership.

When the matches begin, criminals will already be at work. The key difference will be our level of preparedness. Let us work together to make a difference and save lives!

Freddy Massimi III, CFCI, CHTI, financial crimes technology specialist, Truist Bank, program manager, The Knoble, NC, USA,

1. "Miami SAO Newsletter 2022 Vol.4 Message from the State Attorney," The Office of State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, May 23, 3022, https://miamisao.com/miami-sao-newsletter-vol-4/
2. Pilar Sainz De Baranda and David Lopez-Riquelme, "Analysis of corner kicks in relation to match status in the 2006 World Cup," Taylor & Francis Online, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17461391.2010.551418