This is what FinCEN has stated in the past about weak aliases:  
 
"Am I required to screen for weak aliases (AKAs)? OFAC’s regulations do not explicitly require any specific screening regime.  Financial institutions and others must make screening choices based on their circumstances and compliance approach.  As a general matter, though, OFAC does not expect that persons will screen for weak AKAs, but expects that such AKAs may be used to help determine whether a 'hit' arising from other information is accurate." 

Currently we receive multiple files, a couple of which are defined as the A.K.A. files.  These are all scanned appropriately.  We can also state we do not scan the comments section as up to this point this data field was only to be used for investigative purposes.

For further information on how and why OFAC determines these names as weak aliases, check www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/weak_strong_alias.aspx.