• MATCH
  • CLEAR
  • REVIEW
  • INFO

How to screen entities for sanctions with your AI

Connect OpenSanctions to your AI client to automate identity checks against global watchlists. Your agent handles the name matching and data retrieval.

Ask AI about this page

Short answer

How can I use my AI to check if an entity is sanctioned?

Your AI uses the OpenSanctions MCP to run fuzzy name matching against lists like OFAC and the UN. It identifies potential matches and pulls entity profiles to help you confirm identities. You get a clear breakdown of matches and data.

Screening outcomes

Where your results land.

The AI categorizes every check into one of these four outcomes.

MATCH

Sanction hits found

The AI finds exact or fuzzy matches in regulatory lists. You get the specific entity details that triggered the alert.

CLEAR

No matches found

The AI confirms the name does not appear on monitored watchlists. You get a clean report for your records.

REVIEW

Needs human eyes

High-confidence fuzzy matches require a person to verify identity. The AI flags these for your manual inspection.

INFO

Entity data retrieved

The AI pulls supplemental identity data for known entities. This provides context like aliases or dates of birth.

The workflow

What your AI does when a name arrives.

The AI moves from a simple name to a verified identity through these steps.

  1. Search for names

    The AI looks up the provided name or alias across global sanction databases.

    search_entities

  2. Run fuzzy matching

    The AI compares the input against regulatory lists to find similar names that might be missed by exact spelling.

    match_sanctions

  3. Pull entity details

    Once a potential match is found, the AI grabs the full profile to check for corroborating details.

    get_entity

  4. Verify identity

    The AI compares the retrieved data against your provided information to confirm if it is a true match.

    get_entitymatch_sanctions

Try it

Copy these to start.

Use these prompts to trigger the screening process.

Starting points

Replace the names and list types with your specific targets.

OpenSanctions Connector

You're all set. Choose your MCP client and follow the setup instructions.

Connector linkhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_ZsvZF1zehQBkE9Qy8D6NL3kDsgqsOFIaEJphQI9f/mcp

Claude Desktop

Follow the steps below to connect in seconds.

  1. 1In Claude Desktop, open Settings → Connectors.
  2. 2Click “Add custom connector” and paste the connector link above as the remote MCP server URL.
  3. 3Click Add and start a new chat — OpenSanctions capabilities are ready to use.
Configuration · claude_desktop_config.jsonCopy
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "opensanctions-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_ZsvZF1zehQBkE9Qy8D6NL3kDsgqsOFIaEJphQI9f/mcp"
    }
  }
}
Copy into chat04

  • Check the name 'John Doe' against the OFAC list for any sanction matches.

  • Search for entities named 'Global Logistics Corp' in the UN sanctions database.

  • Run a fuzzy name match for 'M. Korolev' to see if it hits any regulatory lists.

  • Get the full entity details for the match found for 'Acme Holdings' to verify the address.

  • Claude
  • ChatGPT
  • Cursor
  • VS Code
  • Windsurf
  • Claude Code
  • JetBrains
  • Cline

Start here

Connect OpenSanctions once, then ask.

Just link your account to start. Your credentials stay encrypted, and you can immediately start asking your AI to run checks.

Connect OpenSanctions to your AI

FAQ

How the screening behaves

  • 01

    Can the AI automatically clear a sanction hit?

    No. The AI identifies matches and provides data, but a human must make the final decision to clear or flag an entity.

  • 02

    Does the AI update the sanction lists itself?

    No. The AI only reads the data provided by OpenSanctions. It cannot modify or add entries to the regulatory lists.

  • 03

    What happens if a name is spelled slightly differently?

    The AI uses fuzzy matching to find entities that are phonetically similar or have slight spelling variations.

  • 04

    Can I search for specific types of lists?

    Yes, you can instruct your AI to search specific databases like OFAC or the UN through the search tools.

  • 05

    Will the AI delete my search history?

    No. The AI performs the search and presents the results to you in your chat interface.

  • More questions about OpenSanctions? The Connector page answers them. See everything the OpenSanctions Connector can do

Connect OpenSanctions to Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT & more