Run OFAC SDN list screening with fuzzy matching using the OFAC OFAC API and manage false positives with a review queue

Steps

1. Subscribe to OFAC's free SDN data feed or a commercial screening provider (e.g., Dow Jones, LexisNexis, Refinitiv); download the SDN list XML or use the OFAC sanctions search API
2. Normalize the name to be screened: uppercase, remove special characters, expand abbreviations (e.g., Co. -> Company), and transliterate non-Latin scripts
3. Run fuzzy matching using a configurable similarity threshold (e.g., Jaro-Winkler or Levenshtein with a threshold of ~85%); also match against aliases (AKA entries in the SDN list) and entity identifiers (passport, SWIFT BIC, vessel IMO)
4. For matches above a low threshold (e.g., 70%) but below a high-confidence threshold (e.g., 95%), route to a human review queue with match context, score, and both the input record and the SDN entry side by side
5. For matches above the high-confidence threshold, block the transaction and file a Blocked Property Report with OFAC within 10 business days; consult legal before taking this step
6. Periodically re-screen existing customers against updated SDN lists (OFAC updates the list multiple times per week); store screening timestamps and version of the list used for audit