Counter Narcotics and Iran-related Designations; Russia-related Designations Updates; Issuance of Iran-related General License and Guidance; Publication of Fraud Alert

The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has published an Alert “Notice of Fraudulent Communications Requesting Payments involving OFAC” to make the public aware of telephone, email, and letter scams involving individuals falsely claiming to represent OFAC and requesting payments. One example involves timeshare fraud schemes, where scammers have falsely claimed that OFAC has “blocked” payments of taxes made by the timeshare owner. OFAC is also issuing Iran General License O “Authorizing Wind-Down and Limited Safety and Environmental Transactions Involving Certain Vessels” and two related Frequently Asked Questions (1119 and 1120). In addition, the following updates have been made to OFAC’s list of Specially Designated Nationals: