Commitment to ending Animal Trafficking

Combating Animal Trafficking

Illegal wildlife trade is one of the most lucrative forms of organised crime, threatening endangered species, destabilising ecosystems, and fueling criminal networks around the world. At Sentinel Intelligence, we are committed to supporting global efforts to combat this crisis.

Our approach includes:

Intelligence Support – Using our investigative expertise and OSINT capabilities to uncover illicit wildlife trade networks, track suspicious activities, and assist authorities in gathering actionable intelligence.
Collaboration with Enforcement Agencies – Partnering with law enforcement, conservation groups, and international organisations to share insights and strengthen anti-trafficking operations.
Public Awareness & Education – Conducting campaigns to inform the public about the dangers of illegal wildlife trade, how to recognise trafficking activities, and the importance of protecting endangered species.
Data-Driven Research – Analysing trends, trade routes, and emerging threats to support conservation strategies and policy development.

By providing these services at a reduced cost, Sentinel Intelligence enables more organisations to participate in combating animal trafficking, fostering collaboration and strengthening efforts to protect vulnerable species worldwide.

Our goal is simple: to use professional investigative expertise to make a meaningful impact, helping communities, authorities, and conservation groups take effective action against illegal wildlife trade.

How wildlife‑trafficking groups typically launder money

Cash‑intensive businesses — Proceeds are integrated through businesses that naturally handle large volumes of cash (e.g., restaurants, market stalls, transport companies, small trading firms). False sales or inflated takings conceal illicit cash flows.
Trade‑based manipulation — Using import/export invoices, over‑ or under‑invoicing, phantom shipments, or false commodity descriptions to move value across borders without obvious cash transfers.
Shell companies & front companies — Creating or controlling legal entities (often in multiple jurisdictions) that invoice, hold assets, or own property to obscure beneficial ownership and the origin of funds.
Real estate & luxury assets — Buying, selling or investing in property, vehicles, jewellery or art — sometimes using nominee buyers — to convert cash into harder‑to‑trace assets.
Use of third‑party intermediaries — Payments routed through couriers, brokers, trusted intermediaries, or unwitting business partners to break the audit trail and distance organisers from proceeds.
Offshore accounts & secrecy jurisdictions — Moving funds to jurisdictions with strong bank secrecy, limited transparency, or complex corporate laws to delay or prevent tracing.
Informal value transfer systems — Reliance on hawala‑style networks, cash couriers, or trusted remitters that move value without formal banking records.
Cryptocurrencies & mixing services — Converting cash to crypto and using tumblers/mixers, peer‑to‑peer exchanges, or rapid chain transactions to obscure origin (noting that crypto patterns can still leave forensic traces).
Use of charities / conservation fronts — Misusing or establishing organisations that appear legitimate (charitable, research, or conservation) to justify receipts and transfers and mask illicit revenues.
Layering through multiple small transfers — Breaking large sums into many smaller transfers, payments, or invoices (smurfing) to avoid reporting thresholds and detection.

Common indicators investigators should watch for

Unexplained high cash deposits into business accounts inconsistent with declared business activity.
Frequent use of related‑party transactions, round‑trip payments, or payments to unfamiliar offshore entities.
Mismatches between declared goods/services and physical shipments or web/listing evidence.
Rapid buying/selling of high‑value goods soon after purchase, unusual use of nominee owners.
Social media, marketplace ads or chat evidence showing coordinated sales across jurisdictions.
Links between a suspect’s network and known shell companies, courier routes, or suspicious payment patterns.

Commitment to Scam Prevention

At Sentinel Intelligence, we are unwavering in our commitment to combating scams and fraud that exploit individuals, businesses, and organizations. Whether it's financial scams, identity theft, or online fraud, we use our advanced investigative techniques and intelligence capabilities to identify perpetrators and dismantle fraudulent schemes. Our team works closely with law enforcement, regulatory bodies, and private sector partners to track down scammers, protect vulnerable targets, and raise awareness of emerging fraud tactics. By combining cutting-edge technology with thorough research and analysis, we empower our clients to stay one step ahead of scammers, minimize risks, and recover stolen assets. Sentinel stands firm in the fight against fraud, ensuring that integrity and trust remain central to every interaction.

Financial Cost

According to Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC), Australians lost around A$2.74 billion to scams in 2023.
For 2024, preliminary reporting by the National Anti‑Scam Centre (NASC) suggests losses were about A$2 billion, a reduction of ~25.9% from 2023.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) found that in the 2023-24 year, 3.1 % of Australians were victims of scams (up from 2.5% the year before).

Further, the ABS estimated that the net loss after reimbursements for card fraud alone was A$477 million in 2023-24.

Impact on Victims’ Welfare

The cost of scams is not just financial — victims often suffer serious emotional, psychological, and social harm. Key aspects include:

Financial devastation: Many victims lose life savings, retirement funds, or large lump sums. For example, the ACCC report notes older Australians (65+) saw an increase in losses to A$120 million in 2023 among that group.
Emotional & psychological toll: Being scammed can lead to shame, embarrassment, anxiety, depression, and loss of trust in institutions or people. Victims may withdraw socially or avoid discussing the incident – making recovery harder.
Economic ripple effects: Victims may struggle to pay bills, reduce spending on essentials, or incur additional debt — impacting their quality of life. The lost funds might also reduce their ability to invest, save for future needs, or deal with emergencies.
Disproportionate impact on vulnerable groups: People from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, older adults, those seeking part-time work or with limited digital literacy are at higher risk. For instance: job scams targeting CALD individuals rose by 151.2% to A$24.3 million in 2023.
Long-term consequences: Beyond the immediate loss, victims may suffer ongoing consequences such as identity theft, repeated victimisation, or diminished capacity to rebuild financially or emotionally.