Preliminary AML screening is a quick way to assess the “cleanliness” of a crypto address or transaction before sending funds. In a few minutes, you receive a risk assessment (Risk Score) and can see whether there are suspicious flags: links to hacks, fraud, sanctions, obfuscation services, and other risk sources. This step helps reduce the likelihood of blocks, delays, and additional requests from services that comply with AML rules.
Below is a clear instruction and checklist to run the screening without confusion and immediately understand what to do with the result.
Table of contents
- What preliminary AML screening is and when you need it
- What to prepare before screening
- How to run a preliminary AML screening of an address
- How to read the report: Risk Score, flags, and factors
- How to make a decision based on the screening results
- Safety tips and common mistakes
- FAQ
What preliminary AML screening is and when you need it
AML screening (Anti-Money Laundering) is an analysis of a crypto address/transaction for risk signals: suspicious sources of funds, a “dirty” history, overlaps with addresses from sanctions lists, or known incidents (hacks, fraud schemes, etc.).
Preliminary screening is “screen before acting.” It is especially useful when you:
- are about to send funds to an exchange, a payment service, or a centralized exchange;
- received an address from a counterparty and want to understand how safe it is to work with it;
- plan to accept crypto as payment and want to reduce the risk of issues from servicing platforms;
- are making a large transfer and want to rule out obvious red flags in advance.
Important: preliminary AML screening does not provide a 100% guarantee of “approval” everywhere and always—different platforms have different thresholds and rules. But it helps you spot the most common reasons for delays and refusals in advance.
What to prepare before screening
To make the screening fast and the result accurate, prepare:
- Sender address (most often, the source of funds is checked—where you are sending from).
- Network/asset (BTC, ETH, USDT, etc.). The same address format may differ by network, and the report depends on the selected asset.
- TXID (transaction hash) — optional, if you want to check a specific transfer rather than the address overall.
- Some context for yourself: where the funds came from (salary, sale of goods/services, withdrawal from an exchange). Sometimes this helps you explain the source of funds faster if questions arise.
Mini checklist before sending:
- The address is copied without spaces or extra characters.
- The correct network/asset is selected.
- You understand whose address you are checking: the source (yours) or the recipient (the counterparty’s).
How to run a preliminary AML screening of an address
Below is a step-by-step instruction suitable for a “quick check before an exchange/transfer.”
Step 1. Go to the AML screening page
Open the AML screening page.
Step 2. Paste the data for screening
In the screening field, enter the crypto address (or TXID) you want to assess. In the practical “before sending” scenario, you most often check the sender address from which the transfer is planned.
Step 3. sеlect the crypto asset (and network, if required)
sеlect the correct asset. This is critical: a wrong selection can produce an incorrect report or an error.
Step 4. Choose an analyzer
sеlect one of the available paid AML screening options. If you want maximum clarity, it’s more convenient to choose a service that shows an overall Risk Score and a detailed breakdown of factors.
A common choice is GetBlock, because the report typically includes a clear overall risk score and details by risk categories.
Step 5. Pay for the screening and wait for the report
Pay for the service and wait for the report to be generated. This usually takes a few minutes.
Step 6. Save the result and prepare to decide
Save the report (or take a screenshot): if questions arise later from the service you are sending funds to, it’s easier to provide the result to support before creating the order/request.
How to read the report: Risk Score, flags, and factors
Most AML reports inсlude three key blocks:
- Overall AML risk level (Risk Score) — a final percentage/score.
- List of risk categories — flags that were triggered for the address/transaction.
- Factors and explanations — why the systеm assigned that risk level.
What to check first:
- High-priority risk categories: sanctions exposure, confirmed fraud incidents, addresses linked to thefts/hacks, etc.
- Share of “suspicious” inflows (if the report shows exposure percentage) — e.g., when a significant part of funds comes from high-risk sources.
- Repeatability: a single “noisy” episode versus systematic activity are different risk profiles.
- Recency of flags: some flags may be old, while others are tied to recent incidents.
Interpretation tip: a high Risk Score is almost always important, but sometimes the combination of “medium score + specific red flags” is more telling. So always review not only the final percentage but also the breakdown.
How to make a decision based on the screening results
Your decision logic depends on your goal (exchange, payment, transfer) and how critical delays are.
- Low risk: usually you can proceed without additional actions.
- Elevated risk: it’s better to reduce the chance of issues—for example, check with the service’s support whether they accept such funds and attach the report in advance.
- High risk: most often it’s wiser not to send these funds to an AML-compliant service until you clarify the source of funds and obtain a clear action plan.
A practical reference often used in compliance rules: if the overall Risk Score exceeds 60% and there are high-risk flags, the funds may be temporarily suspended under AML procedures, and the user may be asked for additional information in accordance with AML requirements.
If the risk is elevated or high, instead of “I’ll try sending—maybe it goes through,” it’s safer to:
- not send immediately;
- contact support in advance and clarify the consequences;
- if needed, prepare an explanation of the source of funds and attach the screening report.
You can share the preliminary screening results with the exchange office/service operator to assess risks before creating the request — this saves time and reduces the likelihood of blocks mid-process.
Safety tips and common mistakes
Helpful tips
- Check the “source” if your goal is to avoid issues when sending: most questions relate to the address the funds come from.
- Make a small test transfer if the operation is large and you are unsure about the risk (especially with a new counterparty).
- Keep confirmations: AML report, TXID, screenshots, correspondence. This helps if the service requests additional details.
- Compare factors, not only the number: the same percentage can be “soft” (low-priority flags) or “hard” (critical categories).
Common mistakes
- Wrong asset/network — the report becomes irrelevant.
- Checking the wrong address — e.g., checking the recipient when the service’s risk control will examine the sender.
- Ignoring the breakdown — relying only on the Risk Score without reviewing the flags.
- Sending high-risk funds “hoping it works” — more often leads to delays and extra back-and-forth with support.
FAQ
Not always, but it’s a useful habit before an exchange or a large transfer. It reduces the likelihood of delays and helps you understand in advance whether the address has risk flags.
For the “before sending” scenario, you most often check the sender address (source of funds). TXID is useful when you want to assess a specific transfer—for example, an incoming payment from a client.
Different analyzers use different label databases and scoring models. Therefore, compare not only the final percentage but also the list of risk categories and the reasons shown in the report.
There is no universal standard: thresholds depend on each platform’s rules. In practice, people often use this guide: the closer the risk is to high values (for example, above 60%) and the “redder” the flags, the higher the chance of delays and additional requests.
It’s better not to send funds immediately. Save the report, check with the service’s support whether they accept such funds, and prepare a brief explanation of the source of funds. Detailed rules are usually described in the service’s AML section.
No guarantees: different platforms have different policies, and the assessment changes over time. But low risk usually means no obvious “red flags” were found.
Summary
Preliminary AML screening is a simple procedure that helps you assess the risk of an address/transaction in advance and avoid unpleasant surprises when sending funds. Just paste the address, choose the asset and analyzer, then carefully review the Risk Score and flags.
Practical rule: if you have doubts, it’s better to ask support in advance and attach the report before creating the request. It’s faster than dealing with delays after sending.
Check the address before exchanging — reduce the risk
