What is an alias (AKA) on a sanctions list?
An alias, or also-known-as, is an alternative name published alongside a listing: a variant spelling, a former name, a nickname or an assumed identity. Aliases are part of the designation and have to be screened as well as the primary name.
Authorities publish aliases because designated parties do not transact under the name on the primary entry. OFAC distinguishes strong from weak aliases, weak ones being lower-quality names such as nicknames or partial forms, which OFAC notes are more likely to produce false positives and publishes with that caveat. Screening primary names only is a configuration error that discards precisely the identifiers most likely to appear on a real invoice or payment message.
What this workflow covers
SCOPE- Load every alias on an entry as a searchable name, keeping its type so weak aliases can be scored and reviewed differently.
- A vessel is listed under one name while the bill of lading uses a former name published on the entry. Only alias screening catches it.
- Aliases are added over time, so an amendment can create a match against a customer screened without incident a week earlier.
- An alias is not a separate designation and does not create a second listed party.
Compliance glossary
TERMS- Strong alias
- A high-quality alternative name for a listed target, screened at the same standard as the primary name.
- Weak alias
- A low-quality alternative such as a nickname or partial name, published with a caveat because it produces more false positives.
Authoritative references
SOURCES- 01Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN) — Human Readable Lists
U.S. Department of the Treasury — OFAC
- 02OFAC Sanctions List Search Tool
U.S. Department of the Treasury — OFAC
Frequently asked questions
Q&A- Strong or weak alias: does it change what we do?
- It changes how you weight the candidate, not whether you look. OFAC publishes strong aliases as high-quality alternative names and weak aliases as lower-quality identifiers such as nicknames or partial names. Weak aliases generate more false positives, so most programmes score them separately rather than drop them.
- Should we screen weak aliases at all?
- Most programmes do, at a different threshold or with mandatory identifier confirmation. Excluding them entirely is a deliberate acceptance of risk, so it belongs in the screening policy as a decision rather than sitting in a configuration file as a default.
- Do companies and vessels have aliases too?
- Yes. Entities are listed with former names, trading names and abbreviations, and vessels with previous names and call signs. Those are frequently the identifiers that actually appear in shipping and trade documents.