Thread: Purchasing binoculars internationally - harassed by bank?

Sure, query the payment if needed, but I still dont think it is any of the banks business what its usage is. It would be interesting to know 1. Why they are asking, 2. on whos instruction, 3.what happens to the information after you have told them (ie, do they pass it onto the police?). Could it be considered against the privacy act to even ask? They are a bank, not a detective agency or a cop shop.

I find it odd for them to ask. I would be querying it before disclosing any info - the usage is irrelevant.

Why do a wire transfer in this day and age ?

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

ANZ are a bunch of lunatics, try business banking with them... or try using your cards or accessing your online banking from anywhere in South America with them... they block your access to accounts and money "for your safety" and then you let them know what's going on, they say everything is all good then the next day same bloody thing happens again
Also, interesting, and intertwined with your story, I was watching a Vice news article on YouTube a while ago and I had to laugh when I saw that an Islamic State fighter in part of the video was using a pair of Swaro ELs

Almost all the used Hiluxes disappeared from Sweden when it kicked off in Syria,then budding little Martyrs would sign up finance on new one's then scoot off to their Holy war.


One of the local transport firms here in Norway sold a few old dump trucks,only to see pictures of one on the news with a tank turret mounted on the deck. The silly buggers had forgotten to remove their companie sign writing too

Originally Posted by Ground Control

Why do a wire transfer in this day and age ?

The CC address details have to match the delivery details, otherwise can't put through the transaction. (According to the online store) I am having a friend in the US bringing these back for me.

Happened to me with an Europtic purchase (also Leica binos). I did not notice the email on my ANZ internet banking page (who checks their bank email!). Because I did not respond the bank cancelled the transaction, which annoyed me as I was going to pick the binos up in the US. By the time I clicked to what had happened it was too late to have them sent to the US address and I had to pay increased shipping costs/gst etc, etc for them to come here.

^ And that's my exact situation. Fortunately I noticed the message.

Originally Posted by hotsoup

So I have purchased a pair of binoculars from Eurooptic. I made the payment through my local bank without any trouble. I then receive a rather serious email from ANZ requiring invoices, 'final destination of intended use and the end user' + some more that my payment isn't involved with Iran, Syria, North Korea to name a few....

Has anyone experienced this before?

@hotsoup how much were the Binos? Any transaction in NZ under the AML/CFT act 2009 require confirmed ID to strict levels to verify you are not laundering money or transferring it to criminal or terrorist groups. I think it also applys to any transactions of foriegn currency over $1000.

I would contact your / the bank directly. It is possible it is a scam and direct contact to your bank rather than via a reply to a dodgy email is the safest option.

Being Leica, I would not be surprised if it easily exceeded the $1000 foreign currency threshold and depending on which ones the $6000 threshold is possible as well.

Wont occur when you purchase firearms as the FA license is a suitable form of ID to prove who you are. You will need it for buying cars over $6k or any transaction now. (It was $10k under the Financial Transactions Act up until 2009 when it changed to the AML/CFT act).

Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009 No 35 (as at 01 July 2019), Public Act Contents – New Zealand Legislation

Yeah, because as usual, when crims ignore the laws we simply MUST punish, thrash and regulate the law-abiding citizenry harder. / sarc.

Originally Posted by sightpicture

Yeah, because as usual, when crims ignore the laws we simply MUST punish, thrash and regulate the law-abiding citizenry harder. / sarc.

The AML / CFT was not implemented to target criminals or the public. It was bought into place because without those rules in place, we would likely become unable to trade fairly with other countries. Restrictions would be (And have been to other countries) put in place to reflect the risk of trading with supporters of terrorism. Essentially, if these rules were not instituted, dealing with the US, UK , Aus and others would become more difficult, and more expensive.

The law essentially is a lowering of the threshold from the Financial trading act, and a lot more specific about what types of verification is acceptable as well as addressing what to do if these conditions are unable to be met. Most banks have been brining their IDs up to that standard in the last few years, Casinos, TAB, and financial traders have been complying with this since 2009, and more recently Lawyers and real estate agents and car sales have also been brought up to this standard.

One example given to us for NOT doing it was a real estate agent who said it would cot him business. He had a sale for a $2m going through that week (cash buyer) for a house in Auckland. It was for a 25 yr old lady. When asked how he knew it was not from drugs etc his reply was "He had a business relationship of many trade built up with her and she had purchased several houses for cash before so it was not unusual". When asked where exactly a 25 yr old got the cash to pay for half a dozen houses each exceeding $1m? And did he think that this was a good storage idea for Drug funds so they dont get stolen? He had no answer.

At the end of the day, the only impact on most people will be the drop in transaction value form 10k to 6k and the more specific ID requirements. (EG Driver license is NOT acceptable without a secondary form of ID as there is no background check to verify identitiy of the holder- but Passports or Firearms License is acceptable as stand alone ID due to the scrutiny undertaken to verify the ID of the possessor before issuing.)

Side note- I deal with this on a daily basis so have a little experience with it....

Like Timtalon I have to deal with this on a daily basis as a chartered accountant.

Not only do we need to follow the similar ID and source of wealth issues, but we are also required to report and address suspicious transactions. Failure to do so may lead to large fines and possible jail time.

It's all to do with preventing money laundering and stopping the financing of terrorism.

Originally Posted by Manchester

Like Timtalon I have to deal with this on a daily basis as a chartered accountant.

Not only do we need to follow the similar ID and source of wealth issues, but we are also required to report and address suspicious transactions. Failure to do so may lead to large fines and possible jail time.

It's all to do with preventing money laundering and stopping the financing of terrorism.

That would be in the title too.....Countering Financing of Terrorism and Anti Money Laundering Act. Also has situations where a transaction may be stopped or discontinued until such point as the finances are clarified, and this can mean some very large deals can fall over.

Its becoming shameful that the govt is ordering people by law who are in professional positions to dob in their own clients. Its a pretty sure way of loosing a client if you're one of those professionals.

Originally Posted by mimms2

The alternative being what? ILlegal money laundering? Peasant! Off to jail!

There isn't an alternative if you're a law abiding person. You loose a client if you do, you loose your business or worse if you don't. Its a no win situation if you're a doctor or accountant.