Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Search

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), a division of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, is responsible for administering and enforcing economic and trade sanctions. An OFAC search is a specialized screening tool designed to ensure your organization is not hiring or conducting business with individuals or entities flagged as threats to the United States.

What Does the Search Cover?

The U.S. government prohibits citizens and organizations from engaging in transactions with specific targets, regardless of what country they currently reside in. To help you navigate these restrictions and remain compliant, our search checks the U.S. Department of the Treasury's primary sanction databases:

• The Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List: The primary list of individuals and companies owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, targeted countries and groups.
• The Non-SDN Consolidated Sanctions List: A comprehensive collection of secondary lists, including the Foreign Sanctions Evaders List, the Sectoral Sanctions Identifications List, and several other targeted financial and military sanctions lists.

By cross-referencing these authoritative lists, the search identifies whether a candidate is tied to:

• International terrorism
• International narcotics trafficking
• The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
• Other recognized threats to U.S. national security, foreign policy, or the economy

How Does the Search Work?

Our team processes these searches directly through the U.S. Department of the Treasury's official database in real time.

1. Direct Search: We query the national database to locate any potential records.
2. Identity Verification: Any potential matches are carefully reviewed and verified using the identifying information provided by your candidate (such as full name, date of birth, and address history).
3. Record Delivery: If a record is confirmed as a match to your candidate, the details of the official OFAC sanction are made available directly in the attachments section of your Verified First report.

Who Needs This Search?

While any organization can run an OFAC search as part of a robust risk-mitigation strategy, it is strongly recommended for:

• Companies engaged in international business, global supply chains, or cross-border trade.
• Financial institutions and healthcare organizations.
• Organizations required to maintain strict due diligence regarding U.S. sanctions programs.

Why Make This Part of Your Screening Process?

• Maintain Strict Compliance: The U.S. government imposes severe civil and criminal penalties (including massive fines) on companies that conduct business with sanctioned individuals, even if the company was unaware of the individual's status.
• Protect National Security: Beyond basic criminal history, this search flags international-level risks, preventing you from inadvertently providing income or access to known terrorists, traffickers, or foreign threats.
• Verify Business Eligibility: While it does not check standard work authorization (like an I-9), an OFAC search is the only way to definitively ensure your company is legally permitted to engage in a financial or business relationship with a candidate.

The information and opinions expressed are for educational purposes only and are based 
on current practice, industry related knowledge and business expertise. The information
provided shall not be construed as legal advice, express or implied. 

If you have any further questions, or need a product enabled on your account, 
please contact Verified First Client Services for assistance.

Call 844-709-2708 or email clientservices@verifiedfirst.com