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Visa, MasterCard deals may come under lens

May 15, 2007 19:19 IST
The government is considering to bring all international payment gateways like Visa and MasterCard under the ambit of law, whereby they would have to report suspicious transactions to the security agencies.

This was stated by Minister of State for Finance S S Palanimanickam in Rajya Sabha while replying to a written question on whether the government was going to bring MasterCard, Visa and other money wire transfer agencies under strict surveillance.

"The proposal to bring all international payment gateways like Visa and MasterCard and wire transfer agencies in the category of institutions obliged to report cash transactions and suspicious transactions is under consideration of the government," the Minister said.

"If and when such agencies are brought under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002, they will be required to furnish reports in accordance with the provisions of the Act," he said.

The Minister also informed the house that during the last fiscal, the Financial Intelligence Unit received 21 lakh cash transactions reports and 817 suspicious transactions reports from the reporting entities.

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