Sanctions & Watchlist Screening — Risk-Scored Decisions

🛡️ Screen names against global sanctions lists

Built for compliance teams, risk analysts, and developers, this Actor screens up to 500 people or organizations against official OFAC, EU, UK OFSI, and UN lists. It returns one clear outcome per name, possible matches, risk levels, source evidence, and next review steps. No separate data API key is needed.

• Check names with OFAC sanctions screening before onboarding.
• Run global sanctions screening across all four supported authorities.
• Add recurring checks to an AML sanctions screening workflow.
• Check political exposure with the PEP screening tool option.
• Search one authority with UN sanctions screening.
• Review names and source evidence with the sanctions list search tool task.
• Compare possible hits with an OFAC screening tool run.
• Add a ready-made sanctions screening tool to a compliance process.

📦 What data does the Actor return?

Each dataset row covers one submitted name. It gives a potential-match or clear outcome, a risk level, reasons, review readiness, and source coverage. Possible matches can include aliases, authorities, programs, countries, birth facts, identifiers, addresses, remarks, listing dates, and official source links.

A possible match is not identity proof or legal advice. Check the source evidence and use human review before you act.

▶️ How to run the Actor

1. Add one or more people or organizations under Names to screen.
2. Add a date of birth, country, or identifier when you know it.
3. Choose the authorities, entity types, and name matching policy.
4. Turn on PEP data or recurring review options when needed.
5. Click Start and open the dataset when the run ends.

📥 Input

Field	Type	What it does
subjects	object[]	Adds 1 to 500 names to screen.
subjects[].name	string	Gives the required full name.
subjects[].dateOfBirth	string	Adds a known birth date for match checks.
subjects[].country	string	Adds a known country, nationality, or place of birth.
subjects[].identifier	string	Adds a passport, national ID, company number, vessel ID, or aircraft ID.
authorities	string[]	Chooses OFAC, EU, UK OFSI, or UN lists. All four are used when omitted.
includePepWatchlists	boolean	Also checks PEP and related watchlist data.
entityTypes	string[]	Limits matches to people, organizations, vessels, or aircraft. All kinds are used when omitted.
matchingPolicy	string	Uses strict, balanced, or broad name matching.
monitorName	string	Gives a recurring screen a stable name for change tracking.
previousRunDataset	string	Selects an earlier Apify dataset for match comparison and review history.
reviewDecisions	object[]	Adds past analyst decisions to this review.
reviewDecisions[].matchId	string	Gives the stable match ID from an earlier result.
reviewDecisions[].decision	string	Sets cleared-false-positive, needs-review, or confirmed-match.
reviewDecisions[].reason	string	Adds a short reason for the decision.
suppressClearedMatches	boolean	Hides past cleared false positives while still counting them.

This example is the public input from a successful default-input run:

{
  "subjects": [
    {
      "name": "Vladimir Putin",
      "dateOfBirth": "1952-10-07",
      "country": "Russia"
    }
  ],
  "authorities": [
    "ofac",
    "eu",
    "ofsi",
    "un"
  ],
  "includePepWatchlists": false,
  "entityTypes": [
    "person",
    "organization",
    "vessel",
    "aircraft"
  ],
  "matchingPolicy": "balanced",
  "suppressClearedMatches": false
}

📤 Output

The dataset has one output shape. Optional fields appear when you submit extra details or use recurring review.

Field	Type	What it does
screenedName	string	Shows the submitted name.
outcome	string	Shows potential-match or clear.
riskLevel	string	Gives the human-review priority level.
recommendedAction	string	Gives the suggested next review step.
reasons	string[]	Explains the outcome and risk.
submittedDetails	object	Shows submitted facts used for checks.
submittedDetails.dateOfBirth	string	Shows the submitted birth date.
submittedDetails.country	string	Shows the submitted country detail.
submittedDetails.identifier	string	Shows the submitted official ID.
reviewReadiness	object	Says whether the facts are enough for useful review.
reviewReadiness.level	string	Gives ready, limited, or insufficient.
reviewReadiness.missingDetails	string[]	Lists details that could improve confidence.
matches	object[]	Lists possible matches in review order.
matches[].matchId	string	Gives a stable subject-and-source match ID.
matches[].matchedName	string	Shows the source record's main name.
matches[].aliases	string[]	Lists other published names.
matches[].entityType	string	Shows the matched entity kind.
matches[].score	number	Gives name match strength from 0 to 100.
matches[].matchStrength	string	Groups the score as exact, strong, or possible.
matches[].categories	string[]	Shows whether sanctions, PEP, or watchlist data caused the hit.
matches[].authorities	string[]	Lists authorities that published the record.
matches[].programs	string[]	Lists linked sanctions or watchlist programs.
matches[].countries	string[]	Lists linked countries.
matches[].nationalities	string[]	Lists published nationalities.
matches[].datesOfBirth	string[]	Lists published birth dates.
matches[].placesOfBirth	string[]	Lists published birth places.
matches[].identifiers	object[]	Lists published official IDs.
matches[].identifiers[].type	string	Names the ID kind.
matches[].identifiers[].value	string	Gives the published ID value.
matches[].identifiers[].country	string	Gives the issuing country when known.
matches[].addresses	string[]	Lists published addresses.
matches[].remarks	string[]	Lists source authority notes.
matches[].listingDates	string[]	Lists dates when authorities added the entity.
matches[].sourceIds	string[]	Lists official record IDs.
matches[].sourceLinks	string[]	Links to official pages or files used for review.
matches[].corroboration	object[]	Compares submitted facts with source facts.
matches[].corroboration[].field	string	Names the checked fact.
matches[].corroboration[].result	string	Gives agree, conflict, or unknown.
matches[].corroboration[].reason	string	Explains the check result.
matches[].changeStatus	string	Shows how a recurring match changed.
matches[].changeReason	string	Explains a material change.
matches[].reviewDecision	object	Shows a carried-forward analyst decision.
matches[].reviewDecision.decision	string	Gives the saved decision.
matches[].reviewDecision.reason	string	Gives the saved reason when present.
suppressedMatchCount	integer	Counts earlier cleared false positives hidden from this row.
monitorName	string	Shows the recurring screen name.
sourceCoverage	object[]	Shows whether each requested list was checked.
sourceCoverage[].authority	string	Names the requested authority.
sourceCoverage[].status	string	Gives covered, failed, or unavailable.
sourceCoverage[].message	string	Explains a source gap or failure.

Full row from the successful default-input run:

{
  "screenedName": "Vladimir Putin",
  "outcome": "potential-match",
  "riskLevel": "high",
  "recommendedAction": "Review this match now.",
  "reasons": [
    "3 possible matches were found."
  ],
  "submittedDetails": {
    "dateOfBirth": "1952-10-07",
    "country": "Russia"
  },
  "reviewReadiness": {
    "level": "ready",
    "missingDetails": [
      "identifier"
    ]
  },
  "matches": [
    {
      "matchId": "a1dcfce3de5113025d0c1f32",
      "matchedName": "Vladimir Putin",
      "aliases": [
        "Vladimir Vladimirovich PUTIN",
        "Vladimir Putin",
        "владимир владимирович путин"
      ],
      "entityType": "person",
      "score": 100,
      "matchStrength": "exact",
      "categories": [
        "sanctions"
      ],
      "authorities": [
        "ofsi",
        "ofac"
      ],
      "programs": [],
      "countries": [
        "ru"
      ],
      "nationalities": [
        "ru"
      ],
      "datesOfBirth": [
        "1952-10-07"
      ],
      "placesOfBirth": [
        "St Petersburg (then Leningrad)",
        "Russia"
      ],
      "identifiers": [],
      "addresses": [
        "Moscow, Russia"
      ],
      "remarks": [
        "The Director Disqualification Sanction was imposed on 09/04/2025."
      ],
      "listingDates": [],
      "sourceIds": [
        "Q7747"
      ],
      "sourceLinks": [
        "https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-uk-sanctions-list",
        "https://sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov/",
        "https://www.opensanctions.org/entities/Q7747/",
        "https://sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov/Details.aspx?id=35096"
      ],
      "corroboration": [
        {
          "field": "dateOfBirth",
          "result": "agree",
          "reason": "The submitted detail agrees with the source."
        },
        {
          "field": "country",
          "result": "agree",
          "reason": "The submitted detail agrees with the source."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "matchId": "d1ff4e2e79f2b697e42075e5",
      "matchedName": "Vladimir Anatolyevich Tyurin",
      "aliases": [
        "Vladimir Anatolyevich Tyurin",
        "ВЛАДИМИР АНАТОЛЬЕВИЧ ТЮРИН",
        "Vladimir Turiyan",
        "Aleksei Vladimirovich Pugachev",
        "Volodya Tyurin",
        "Alexei Pavlovich Pugachev",
        "Vladimir Tiurin",
        "Vladimir Tiorine",
        "АЛЕКСЕЙ ВЛАДИМИРОВИЧ ПУГАЧЕВ",
        "Anatoly Tyurine",
        "Anatoly Tyurin",
        "Vladimir Tiurine",
        "Vladimir Turin",
        "Vladimir Tiourine",
        "Vladimir Tyurine",
        "Wladimir Tjurin",
        "Vladimir Pavlovich Gromov",
        "Anatolievich Turin",
        "ВЛАДИМИР ПАВЛОВИЧ ГРОМОВ",
        "Vladimir Tjrurin",
        "Vladimir Anatolievich Tyurin",
        "Alexey Pugachev"
      ],
      "entityType": "person",
      "score": 86,
      "matchStrength": "strong",
      "categories": [
        "sanctions"
      ],
      "authorities": [
        "ofac"
      ],
      "programs": [],
      "countries": [
        "be",
        "ru"
      ],
      "nationalities": [],
      "datesOfBirth": [
        "1958-11-25",
        "1958-12-20"
      ],
      "placesOfBirth": [
        "Bratsk, Russia",
        "Irkutsk, Russia",
        "Tirlyan, Beloretskiy Rayon, Bashkiria, Russia"
      ],
      "identifiers": [
        {
          "type": "passportNumber",
          "value": "410579055"
        },
        {
          "type": "passportNumber",
          "value": "432062125"
        },
        {
          "type": "passportNumber",
          "value": "4511264874"
        },
        {
          "type": "passportNumber",
          "value": "EA804478"
        }
      ],
      "addresses": [
        "Moscow"
      ],
      "remarks": [],
      "listingDates": [],
      "sourceIds": [
        "Q4467629"
      ],
      "sourceLinks": [
        "https://sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov/",
        "https://sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov/Details.aspx?id=23243",
        "https://www.opensanctions.org/entities/Q4467629/"
      ],
      "corroboration": [
        {
          "field": "dateOfBirth",
          "result": "conflict",
          "reason": "The submitted detail differs from the source."
        },
        {
          "field": "country",
          "result": "conflict",
          "reason": "The submitted detail differs from the source."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "matchId": "b06d96a9f1d384daf70d0256",
      "matchedName": "Владимир Иванович ШАСТИН",
      "aliases": [
        "Vladimir Ivanovich SHASTIN",
        "Владимир Иванович ШАСТИН",
        "Vladimir Šastin"
      ],
      "entityType": "person",
      "score": 80,
      "matchStrength": "possible",
      "categories": [
        "sanctions"
      ],
      "authorities": [
        "eu"
      ],
      "programs": [],
      "countries": [],
      "nationalities": [
        "ru"
      ],
      "datesOfBirth": [],
      "placesOfBirth": [],
      "identifiers": [
        {
          "type": "idNumber",
          "value": "253606386404"
        }
      ],
      "addresses": [],
      "remarks": [],
      "listingDates": [],
      "sourceIds": [
        "NK-BVtC79976DQPuMFyxZpPcK"
      ],
      "sourceLinks": [
        "https://data.europa.eu/data/datasets/consolidated-list-of-persons-groups-and-entities-subject-to-eu-financial-sanctions",
        "https://www.opensanctions.org/entities/NK-BVtC79976DQPuMFyxZpPcK/"
      ],
      "corroboration": [
        {
          "field": "dateOfBirth",
          "result": "unknown",
          "reason": "The source does not publish this detail."
        },
        {
          "field": "country",
          "result": "conflict",
          "reason": "The submitted detail differs from the source."
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "suppressedMatchCount": 0,
  "sourceCoverage": [
    {
      "authority": "ofsi",
      "status": "covered"
    },
    {
      "authority": "eu",
      "status": "covered"
    },
    {
      "authority": "ofac",
      "status": "covered"
    },
    {
      "authority": "un",
      "status": "covered"
    }
  ]
}

💳 Pricing

You pay once for each submitted name screened against the selected sanctions and watchlists. A screen is charged even when it has no possible match. Apify shows the current event price before you start a run.

🔌 Integrations

Send dataset rows to Google Sheets, Slack, webhooks, Make, Zapier, or your own app with the Apify API. You can also schedule recurring screens in Apify.

❓ FAQ

What is sanctions screening?

Sanctions screening checks a person or organization name against lists published by authorities. This Actor checks supported OFAC, EU, UK OFSI, and UN lists and returns evidence for human review.

Does a potential match prove identity?

No. Name similarity is not identity proof. Use birth facts, country details, identifiers, and official source links to review each hit.

Can I screen many names at once?

Yes. One run accepts from 1 to 500 subjects under one shared set of list and matching settings.

Can I check PEP data?

Yes. Turn on includePepWatchlists. Each hit shows the category that caused it.

Can I track changes over time?

Yes. Use a stable monitorName and select previousRunDataset. Later runs can show new, changed, and resolved matches and carry forward analyst decisions.

Is a separate sanctions API key needed?

No. Core screening does not ask you for a third-party data API key.

📝 Changelog

0.0: Initial release

• Screen names against OFAC, EU, UK OFSI, UN, PEP, and related watchlists with risk-scored matches, source evidence, and recurring review support.

🆘 Support

For issues, questions, or feature requests, file a ticket and I'll fix or implement it in less than 24h 🫡

🔗 Related Actors

• GLEIF LEI Lookup — verify company identity and ownership data before a sanctions review.
• Sanctions & Watchlist Screening — Risk-Scored Decisions — use OpenSanctions for an adjacent sanctions and watchlist workflow.
• OFAC Sanctions List Search — SDN Screening with Fuzzy Matching — focus a review on the US OFAC SDN list.
• Interpol Red Notice & Wanted Persons Search — add wanted-person checks to due diligence.
• EU Consolidated Sanctions List Tracker API — inspect normalized EU sanctions records and list updates.

Made with ❤️ by Maxime Dupré