Overview
The Fiscal Information and Investigation Service (FIOD-ECD) is the financial investigation arm of the Dutch Tax Administration (Belastingdienst) and operates under the Dutch Ministry of Finance.
It is responsible for investigating financial, fiscal, and economic crimes, including money laundering, tax fraud, corruption, insider trading, cybercrime, and other serious financial offences.
As part of the Netherlands’ national framework for financial integrity, FIOD-ECD plays a critical role in maintaining fair taxation, public trust, and fiscal stability.
Wirex collaborates with FIOD-ECD to strengthen efforts against financial crime by sharing verified intelligence, identifying suspicious activity, and supporting investigations within the boundaries of EU and Dutch law. Together, we help protect the interests of Dutch and European citizens and ensure that public resources remain secure.
The Mission of FIOD-ECD
FIOD-ECD’s core mission is to detect, investigate, and prevent financial crime that undermines economic order and trust in the financial system. Its main objectives include:FIOD-ECD’s core mission is to detect, investigate, and prevent financial crime that undermines economic order and trust in the financial system. Its main objectives include:
Providing intelligence to the Public Prosecution Service (OM), FIOD-ECD, and other enforcement authorities to support ongoing investigations.
Investigating complex financial crimes such as tax evasion, money laundering, and corporate fraud.
Collaborating with public and private institutions to strengthen the Dutch economy’s resilience against fraud and corruption.
Supporting national and European enforcement authorities through joint investigations and data exchange.
Tracing illegal financial flows and recovering misappropriated assets. Through these activities, FIOD-ECD helps ensure that businesses and individuals contribute fairly to the economy while protecting society from financial exploitation.
Wirex’s Cooperation with FIOD-ECD
As a regulated financial institution, Wirex maintains close communication with FIOD-ECD in accordance with Dutch and EU regulations, including the WWFT (Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act), the Sanctions Act, and EU AMLD6.
Our cooperation focuses on information sharing, fraud prevention, and fiscal transparency.
1. Protecting Customers and the Public
In cases where customers have been victims of fraud or where their accounts may have been misused, Wirex cooperates directly with FIOD-ECD to trace funds and identify responsible parties. By working together, we help secure customer assets, prevent the re-use of compromised accounts, and safeguard the wider financial ecosystem.
2. Fraud and Tax Evasion Prevention
Wirex proactively identifies patterns that may indicate tax evasion, VAT carousel fraud, or corporate misreporting. Detected irregularities are escalated to competent authorities, including FIOD-ECD, through legally compliant reporting channels. This cooperation reduces financial risk exposure and strengthens the enforcement network that protects honest taxpayers.
3. Compliance and Risk Monitoring
Our compliance framework includes: Continuous monitoring of client activities through risk-based assessment models. Immediate escalation of red-flagged cases for enhanced due diligence. Alignment with FIOD-ECD analytical methodologies to improve fraud detection accuracy. Wirex also shares best practices and risk insights with public institutions to enhance collective awareness of evolving financial crime trends.
4. Information Exchange and Support for Investigations
When FIOD-ECD requests information during active or preventive investigations, Wirex provides relevant and verified transaction data, following strict legal and data-protection procedures. This helps investigators trace transit accounts, follow suspicious fund flows, and identify potential networks involved in financial misconduct. Such collaboration enables faster detection, prevention, and disruption of criminal activities that could impact public finances or private citizens.
Through these activities, FinCEN Nederland ensures that financial institutions – like Wirex – can operate in an environment that is secure, transparent, and fully compliant with both Dutch law and European Union Anti-Money-Laundering Directives (AMLD).
Why Cooperation with FIOD-ECD Matters
| Objective | Impact |
|---|---|
| Detect and prevent tax and financial fraud | Ensures fair competition and market stability |
| Protect citizens and public funds | Reduces loss from scams and financial misconduct |
| Support international investigations | Strengthens EU cooperation against cross-border crime |
| Promote compliance and trust | Builds integrity across the financial sector |
A Shared Vision for Fiscal Transparency
- Identify complex fraud networks.
- Support fair taxation and fiscal transparency.
- Promote sustainable economic growth grounded in integrity.
