What the percentage represents
Sanctions Sleuth compares the entered name with names and aliases extracted from the selected official sources. The displayed percentage is a technical name-similarity indicator. It does not represent the probability that the searched subject is sanctioned, the severity of a sanction, or confidence produced from dates of birth, addresses or identification documents.
Common names, incomplete names, transliteration and spelling variation can produce false positives. A low threshold can return more possible candidates but also more unrelated names. Even a 100% name match is not proof of identity.
A practical review sequence
- Confirm the source. Note which authority and list produced the result.
- Use the official reference. Find the record on the authority's own website or current downloadable dataset.
- Compare names and aliases. Consider word order, alternative spelling, previous names and original-script forms.
- Compare independent identifiers. Check date and place of birth, nationality, address, passport or registration numbers and other available details.
- Read the legal context. Open the programme, regime, ordinance, regulation, decision, notice or statement of reasons associated with the record.
- Check currency. Look for later amendments, corrections, variations, revocations or delistings.
- Escalate uncertainty. Consequential decisions may require the responsible authority, a compliance function or qualified legal advice.
What applied sanctions can mean
Sanctions are not one uniform measure. Depending on the regime, a designation may be associated with an asset freeze, prohibition on making funds or economic resources available, travel or immigration restrictions, trade restrictions, transport measures, director disqualification or other targeted rules. Some sectoral restrictions are established in legislation without every affected party appearing as a named entry.
The app displays measures when they can be extracted from the source data. The official legal instrument remains controlling. A blank, general or unfamiliar app description must not be interpreted as meaning that no restriction applies.
References and official verification
A reference number helps distinguish records and locate their source. It is not always a universal identity number: the same subject may have separate identifiers in different regimes, and an authority can change its data format. Follow the reference within the authority's current list and then follow any cited legal instrument or notice.
When one regime returns a match
Different results are expected because jurisdictions do not maintain identical designations. Verify the positive result first, then check whether your activity, location, nationality, organization and counterparties fall within that regime's scope. Do not dismiss the result merely because the other three sources return nothing.
If reliable identifiers clearly point to a different subject, document how the distinction was made. If identifiers are missing or contradictory, a name search alone cannot resolve the case safely.