The Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC") search pulls from a database that is supplied by the Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Asset Control. The list is called OFAC/SDN (Specially Designated Nationals). More info can be found here:
The Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Department of the Treasury administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions based on US foreign policy and national security goals against targeted foreign countries and regimes, terrorists, international narcotics traffickers, those engaged in activities related to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and other threats to the national security, foreign policy or economy of the United States.
As part of its enforcement efforts, OFAC publishes a list of individuals and companies owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, targeted countries. It also lists individuals, groups, and entities, such as terrorists and narcotics traffickers designated under programs that are not country-specific. Collectively, such individuals and companies are called "Specially Designated Nationals" or "SDNs." Their assets are blocked and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from dealing with them. Many of the sanctions are based on United Nations and other international mandates, are multilateral in scope, and involve close cooperation with allied governments.
The OFAC search pulls from the deverus internal database.
For a more comprehensive search type, please check out the Data Divers Vigilant product HERE
OFAC/SDN FAQ's
Q: What is an SDN?
A: As part of its enforcement efforts, OFAC publishes a list of individuals and companies owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, targeted countries. It also lists individuals, groups, and entities, such as terrorists and narcotics traffickers designated under programs that are not country-specific. Collectively, such individuals and companies are called "Specially Designated Nationals" or "SDNs." Their assets are blocked and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from dealing with them.
Q: How often is the SDN list updated?
A: The SDN list is frequently updated. There is no predetermined timetable, but rather names are added or removed as necessary and appropriate
Q: What do I do if I have a match to the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) or one of OFAC's other sanctions lists?
A: If you have checked a name manually or by using software and find a match, you should do a little more research. Is it an exact name match, or very close? Is your customer located in the same general area as the SDN or another entry on one of OFAC's sanctions lists? If not, it may be a "false hit." If there are many similarities, contact OFAC's "hotline" at 1-800-540-6322 for verification.
Q: How do I verify if a name was removed from one of OFAC's sanctions lists?
A: For historical information about names that have been removed from OFAC’s Specially Designated Nationals List or one of OFAC’s other sanctions lists, please see our Archive of Changes page. Designation, removal, and update information is organized chronologically by list and by year.
Q: Is the OFAC/SDN an Exact Name Match Only Search?
A: The OFAC/SDN is not an exact name only search. For example, if you were to search for Osam Bin Lad you would get matches for Osama Bin Ladin. However if you were to search for Osama Smith you would not get a match for Osama Bin Ladin unless Osama Smith was a known alias for Osama Bin Ladin.
Q: What do I do if I have a match to the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) or one of OFAC's other sanctions lists?
A: If you have checked a name manually or by using software and find a match, you should do a little more research. Is it an exact name match, or very close? Is your customer located in the same general area as the SDN or another entry on one of OFAC's sanctions lists? If not, it may be a "false hit." If there are many similarities, contact OFAC's "hotline" at 1-800-540-6322 for verification.