AUSTRAC Identifies 10 Individuals Paying for Child Sexual Exploitation Material

Financial Watchdog Uncovers Child Exploitation Payments

Australia's financial intelligence agency, AUSTRAC, has successfully identified 10 individuals suspected of paying children to produce child sexual exploitation material. The individuals were referred to law enforcement agencies, including the Australian Federal Police (AFP)-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) and State Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Taskforces, after an intensive analysis of suspicious financial activity.

Collaborative Effort by Fintel Alliance

The identification was the result of a multi-day collaborative effort conducted in November 2025 by the Fintel Alliance, a public-private partnership aimed at combating financial crime. This marked the third such event and the first time a new typology was applied to the data, enhancing the ability to detect complex patterns of criminal behavior. Eight major banks collaborated with AUSTRAC in this initiative, providing crucial data for analysis.

AUSTRAC's Commitment to Combating Child Exploitation

Brendan Thomas, CEO of AUSTRAC, emphasized the growing effectiveness of the Fintel Alliance in unmasking criminal activity. He issued a stern warning to offenders, stating, 'Fintel Alliance is equipped and mobilised to identify suspicious transactions, and we are putting child sex offenders on notice – if you are buying child sexual exploitation material, we will join the dots and we will refer you to law enforcement.' This initiative underscores AUSTRAC's ongoing commitment to preventing the financial system from being exploited for serious and organised crime, particularly child sexual exploitation.

Broader Strategy Against Financial Exploitation

This operation is part of a broader strategy by AUSTRAC and its partners to disrupt payments for child sexual exploitation material. AUSTRAC's Child Sexual Exploitation Response Team (CSERT) plays a key role in guiding these efforts. The agency also works to educate financial institutions on identifying and reporting suspicious transactions through financial crime guides, highlighting various financial indicators that can signal the purchase of child sexual exploitation material.