List screening for regional compliance
COX list screening checks a person or company against sanctions lists, OFAC, PEP registers, public procurement and risk sources in one search, and records which lists were consulted, when and against which edition. It is built for lawyers, accountants, real estate agents and other obligated entities that must prove every check.
Global and regional sources
Country-specific public records
Traceable results in every search
Credit-based model, no fixed fees
What COX checks
List screening supports your due diligence with multiple source types. Each source plays a different role in your risk-based process.
Sanctions and restrictive lists
UN, OFAC, EU, UK and Canada sanctions programs, plus the United States export control and nonproliferation lists. Depending on your jurisdiction, some of these lists may be binding for obligated entities.
PEP sources
Politically Exposed Persons from international and national sources, used to identify when enhanced due diligence applies.
Public procurement records
Government contracting sources such as SECOP II in Colombia, useful for supplier, bidder and contractor due diligence.
Disciplinary and fiscal responsibility sources
Public background sources such as disciplinary records and fiscal responsibility registries that help document third-party reviews.
Local reference lists
Country-specific control and reference sources, such as SAT 69-B in Mexico, used as risk assessment inputs.
International risk sources
Interpol notices, the Europol and NCA most wanted, the World Bank debarment list and the ICIJ Offshore Leaks database: sources that support a broader risk picture of a counterparty without being a sanction.
Not every list has the same compliance effect
Understand the effect of each source before acting on a match. The applicable procedure depends on your jurisdiction, your internal compliance manual, and the competent authority.
Binding or restrictive lists
Some lists have direct legal effect for obligated entities depending on the jurisdiction. For example, in Panama, United Nations Security Council lists are binding and may trigger preventive freezing procedures for non-financial obligated subjects under the applicable framework.
Matches against binding lists should be escalated immediately following your internal procedures and the instructions of the competent authority.
Control or reference lists
Control and reference sources are risk assessment tools. A match does not automatically create preventive freezing or legal effects by itself. They help you evaluate exposure, apply enhanced due diligence, and document your decision.
In each country, the legal effect depends on the applicable law, the regulator, your internal policy, and the type of source.
Local public sources
Public records such as procurement platforms, disciplinary registries and fiscal responsibility databases help document due diligence on suppliers, contractors and third parties. They provide context, not automatic sanctions.
PEP and open sources
PEP sources indicate when enhanced due diligence may apply. Adverse media and open sources add context for risk evaluation. Matches should be reviewed, documented, and handled under the company's internal compliance manual.
🇨🇴 Colombia sources available in COX
Colombian public sources integrated for due diligence, risk evaluation and third-party, supplier, contractor and counterparty reviews.
PEP Función Pública PEP source
Colombian public officials and politically exposed persons declared through the Función Pública platform.
SIRI Procuraduría Background source
Disciplinary background records from the Procuraduría General de la Nación, useful for third-party background checks.
Contraloría Fiscal Responsibility Fiscal source
Fiscal responsibility public records from the Contraloría General de la República.
SECOP II Suppliers Procurement source
Registered suppliers in Colombia's public procurement platform, for supplier due diligence.
SECOP II Bidders Procurement source
Bidders and proponents in public contracting processes, for counterparty and contractor reviews.
SECOP II Electronic Contracts Procurement source
Electronic contract records in public procurement, for contracting history and third-party context.
These sources support due diligence and risk evaluation. They are not restrictive lists and a match does not create automatic sanctions or blocking.
Supported sources
Global sanctions programs, PEP sources and country-specific lists. Coverage may vary by country and configuration.
UN Sanctions
United Nations Security Council Sanctions Lists (UNSC 1267, 1373, 1988, 2253, 2331, 2388) and the vessels designated by the 1718 Committee. Binding for obligated entities in jurisdictions such as Panama.
OFAC SDN Sanctions
US Treasury list of Specially Designated Nationals: people and companies owned or controlled by, or acting for, targeted countries, and designated terrorists and narcotics traffickers.
OFAC consolidated Sanctions
The rest of OFAC's sanctions programmes, excluding the SDN list.
European Union Sanctions
EU consolidated financial sanctions list, read together with the designation acts of the Official Journal, and the vessels designated under Annex XLII.
United Kingdom Sanctions
UK Sanctions List published by OFSI and the FCDO.
Canada Sanctions
Consolidated Autonomous Sanctions List and the terrorist entities listed under section 83.05 of the Criminal Code.
PEP PEP source
Politically Exposed Persons from multiple international and national sources
Panama Resolution 1373 Restrictive
Panama's implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1373
Panama CNBC 02-2018 Reference
Resolution 02-2018 of Panama's National Commission against Money Laundering, which publishes the list of politically exposed persons of Venezuela. A national control list.
SAT Mexico 69-B Reference
Taxpayers with presumed non-existent operations, both the definitive list and the global notices published on the SAT page. A control and reference source for PLD and Vulnerable Activities contexts.
Colombia 6 local sources
PEP Función Pública, SIRI Procuraduría, Contraloría fiscal responsibility, and SECOP II suppliers, bidders and electronic contracts
Interpol Reference
Interpol Red Notices and fugitive lists
DEA Reference
US Drug Enforcement Administration watch lists
FBI Reference
Federal Bureau of Investigation watch lists
Engel List Reference
US Congressional list of foreign actors linked to corruption
ICIJ Offshore Leaks Open source
Officers and entities in the Panama Papers, Pandora Papers, Paradise Papers, Bahamas Leaks and Offshore Leaks database of the ICIJ. A risk source, not a sanction.
Guatemala Procurement source
GuateCompras register of State suppliers, for supplier and third-party due diligence. A match indicates exposure to public funds, not a sanction.
World Bank Debarment
Firms and individuals debarred or cross-debarred by the World Bank Group. A debarment is not a sanctions designation and the risk matrix scores it apart.
US export controls Restrictive
Entity List, Denied Persons and Military End User lists of the BIS, with the ITAR Debarred and Nonproliferation Sanctions lists of the State Department, read from the Consolidated Screening List.
BIS Unverified List Reference
Parties whose bona fides the US Bureau of Industry and Security could not verify. A risk signal, not a designation.
Europol and NCA Reference
EU Most Wanted (ENFAST) and the most wanted of the UK National Crime Agency, alongside the Interpol notices.
Internal List Custom
Customizable internal watchlist for your organization
Coverage may vary by country and configuration. Badges describe the typical role of each source; the legal effect depends on the applicable jurisdiction. The official lists COX keeps as its own copy are downloaded from the issuer every day, and each search records the edition it checked.
Coverage by country
COX adapts screening sources and compliance language to each jurisdiction.
Panama 🇵🇦
UN lists, Panama Resolution 1373 and local sources, with SSNF-oriented compliance for non-financial obligated subjects. In the Panama context, UN Security Council lists are binding and may trigger preventive freezing procedures under the applicable framework.
Learn more about Panama complianceMexico 🇲🇽
SAT 69-B as a control and reference source, in the PLD and Vulnerable Activities context, plus global sanctions and PEP sources.
Learn more about Mexico complianceColombia 🇨🇴
PEP Función Pública, SIRI Procuraduría, Contraloría fiscal responsibility, and SECOP II suppliers, bidders and electronic contracts for supplier and third-party due diligence.
Learn more about Colombia complianceEcuador 🇪🇨
Screening support with international sources, including the UN Security Council consolidated list, for obligated subjects that report to the UAFE. Local sources are not covered yet.
Learn more about Ecuador complianceGuatemala 🇬🇹
International sanctions and PEP sources for LD/FT due diligence, plus the GuateCompras register of State suppliers for supplier and third-party checks.
Learn more about Guatemala complianceVenezuela 🇻🇪
Global sanctions programmes and PEP sources for LC/FT/FPADM due diligence, including the list of politically exposed persons of Venezuela published by Panama’s CNBC.
Learn more about Venezuela complianceDominican Republic 🇩🇴
Screening support with international sources for non-financial obligated entities. Expanding local coverage.
Learn more about Dominican Republic complianceHow Matching Works
Precision matching with configurable thresholds for your compliance needs.
Match Types
Strict Match
Returns only results that match exactly in the same order and quantity of words entered.
Example: "José Luis Herrera" → José Luis Herrera
Most precise search. It skips the score threshold, so a file that carries a middle name the list does not is not found.
Exact Match
Returns results containing all the words you entered, but in any order.
Example: "José Luis Herrera" → José Luis Herrera, Herrera Luis José, Herrera José Luis, José Luis Maitan Herrera
Partial Match
Returns matches with at least one word in first or last name.
Example: "José Luis Herrera" → José Gabriel Herrera, Luis Contreras Herrera, Luis José Santana Herrera
Broad Match Default
Returns matches with words contained in a sequence.
Example: "Ana" → Anais, Anabel, Santana
Match Score Threshold
The Match Score determines how closely a result must match your search criteria. Higher values mean stricter matching:
Only near-perfect matches. Minimal false positives.
High confidence matches. A true match whose file carries one name part the list does not can score below 90.
The default COX measured on real searches: it keeps the true matches the 90 band loses. May include partial matches; requires manual review.
High false positive rate. Not recommended for compliance.
Every search leaves an audit trail
COX keeps traceable evidence of each screening so you can respond to audits, internal reviews and authority requests.
- Searched name
- Identification number when available
- Source consulted
- Date and time
- Match status
- Review decision
- Supporting evidence
- Reviewer notes
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you minimize false positives?
COX uses multiple strategies to reduce false positives:
- Configurable Match Score Thresholds: Raise the threshold above the default of 80 to see fewer borderline rows, knowing that a true match with one extra name part can score below 90.
- Match Type Selection: Use "Strict Match" only when you know every name part and its order; it skips the threshold.
- Name Variations: Our matching accounts for common name variations, nicknames, and abbreviations.
- Manual Review: All potential matches should be reviewed by compliance staff before taking action.
Important: COX provides screening results as a tool. Compliance staff must make final determinations using additional information such as dates of birth, nationalities, and contextual factors.
Does a match mean I have to block or reject the client?
Not necessarily. The effect of a match depends on the type of source and your jurisdiction:
- Binding or restrictive lists: in some jurisdictions, such as Panama for UN Security Council lists, matches may trigger specific procedures for obligated entities, including preventive freezing under the applicable framework.
- Control or reference lists: support risk evaluation and enhanced due diligence. They do not automatically create legal effects by themselves.
- Public and procurement sources: provide context for third-party and supplier reviews.
Always follow your internal compliance manual and the instructions of the competent authority in your country.
How are audit trails maintained?
Every screening search creates a complete audit trail including:
- Date and time of search
- User who performed the search
- Search parameters (names, match type, threshold)
- Results returned and match scores
- Actions taken (discarded, marked as match, etc.)
- IP address and device information
These audit trails are retained for regulatory reporting and can be exported for compliance reviews.
How frequently are the lists updated?
COX maintains frequent updates for all lists:
- UN Sanctions Lists: Updated daily
- OFAC lists (SDN and consolidated): Updated daily
- PEP Lists: Updated daily
- Regional Sanctions (Panama, etc.): Updated daily
- Lists kept as COX's own copy of the official edition: Downloaded from the issuer every day; each search records the edition it checked
- Other International Lists: Updated as the provider publishes them
- Internal Watchlist: Updated in real-time
You can verify the date each list was current as of in your search results and in the PDF report.
How should I tune match score thresholds?
Threshold tuning depends on your risk appetite and business context:
- High-Risk Scenarios (90-95+): Use strict thresholds when you hold the full legal name and want few rows to review; a true match whose file carries a name part the list does not can fall below 90.
- Standard Compliance (80-89): COX's default is 80, measured on real searches: it keeps the true matches the 90 band loses, and the noise it adds is reviewed, not acted on.
- Lower-Risk Scenarios (70-79): Adds mostly namesakes with a single surname; use it only for internal searches, always with manual review.
We recommend starting with the default ("Broad Match" at 80) and raising the threshold only after measuring, on your own searches, what it hides.
Why is COX focused on LATAM?
COX provides specialized support for Latin America compliance:
- Regional Sources: Includes Panama, Mexico, Colombia, and other regional public sources.
- Name Matching: Optimized for Spanish and Portuguese names with variations and regional conventions.
- Local Compliance Language: Adapts to the terminology of each jurisdiction, such as SSNF, PLD, SAGRILAFT, LD/FT and LC/FT/FPADM.
- Frequent Updates: Regional lists are monitored and updated regularly.
- Industry Focus: Designed for non-financial obligated businesses, professionals, and small and medium companies in LATAM.
Start screening in minutes
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Compliance Solutions for Other Professionals
COX serves multiple regulated industries and professional services.
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Client verification, list screening, and compliance documentation for legal practices and notarial services.
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