What poses the greatest money laundering risk for a financial institution offering on-line services to customers?
There is a greater difficulty in matching the customer with the provided identification documentation
There is a lack of human review of the customer’s transactions
Institutions offering on-line services have no possibility to properly verify the identity of their customers
Customers have direct access to their accounts without being detected
One of the key components of an effective anti-money laundering (AML) program is customer due diligence (CDD), which involves verifying the identity of the customer, understanding the nature and purpose of the customer’s relationship with the financial institution (FI), and assessing the risk of money laundering or terrorist financing that the customer poses. CDD is essential for preventing and detecting the misuse of the FI’s services by criminals, and for complying with the relevant laws and regulations.
However, CDD can be challenging for FIs that offer online services to customers, as there is a greater difficulty in matching the customer with the provided identification documentation. Unlike face-to-face interactions, online services rely on electronic or remote methods of identification and verification, such as scanned copies of documents, biometric data, digital signatures, or third-party verification services. These methods may not be as reliable or secure as physical verification, and may expose the FI to the risk of identity fraud, document forgery, or impersonation. Moreover, online services may attract customers from different jurisdictions, which may have different standards and requirements for identification and verification, and may pose different levels of risk.
Therefore, FIs that offer online services to customers should implement enhanced due diligence (EDD) measures to mitigate the risk of money laundering, such as obtaining additional information or documentation from the customer, applying more stringent verification procedures, conducting more frequent and intensive monitoring of the customer’s transactions and behavior, and restricting or limiting the types or amounts of transactions that the customer can perform online.
References:
CAMS Study Guide - 6th Edition, Chapter 3, Section 3.4, page 82
Anti-Money Laundering in a Nutshell, Chapter 4, Section 4.2, page 63
Guidance on Digital Identity, Section 2, page 8
Anti-Money Laundering, The Basics: Installment 1, Section 3.2, page 5
A law enforcement agency is reviewing a suspicious transaction report (STR) filed by a financial institution for suspicious activity on a client's account.
Subsequently, the agency requests further information.
Which supporting documentation might the law enforcement agency request from the institution to facilitate its investigation?
Previously filed STRs on the same customer
Account opening documents and account statements
Copies of promotional materials sent to the customer
A copy of the institution's STR policy and procedures
account opening documents and account statements are examples of supporting documentation that can help the law enforcement agency to verify the identity, profile, and activity of the customer involved in the suspicious transaction. These documents can provide useful information such as the customer’s name, address, date of birth, identification number, occupation, source of funds, transaction history, and beneficiaries. These documents can also help to establish the baseline of normal and expected activity for the customer, and to identify any deviations or anomalies that may indicate money laundering, fraud, or other criminal activities.
References:
Suspicious Activity Report Supporting Documentation, section “What Constitutes Supporting Documentation”, paragraph 2: “Supporting documentation may include, for example, transaction records, new account information, tape recordings, e-mail messages, and correspondence.”
Documentation Requirements: Suspicious Activity Report Supporting Documentation, section “SARs Documentation Requirements”, paragraph 2: “Keep all documents with evidence of the background, the purpose of the transactions, the trigger, the investigation carried out, and all findings and conclusions.”
BSA/AML Manual, section “Assessing the BSA/AML Compliance Program - BSA Compliance Officer”, paragraph 3: “The BSA compliance officer is responsible for ensuring that the bank’s BSA/AML compliance program is implemented effectively, including timely updates in response to changes in regulations or business activities, and for managing all aspects of the BSA/AML compliance program. The BSA compliance officer is also responsible for ensuring that the bank’s BSA/AML compliance program is communicated to all personnel and that adequate training is provided to appropriate personnel.”
What core objective does the Egmont Group suggest would lead to an effective national Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU)?
The FIU must operate from physically separated premises from other law enforcement agencies and government offices.
The FIU meets the Egmont Group assessment criteria.
The FIU must have absolute trust amongst national and international stakeholders before sensitive information will be exchanged with confidence.
The FIU must be able to promote the value of the government's commitment to embed a corruption free society within the country.
According to the Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (the 6th edition) resources, the Egmont Group is an international network of FIUs that facilitates and prompts the exchange of information, knowledge, and cooperation among its members to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, and associated predicate offences1. The Egmont Group suggests that one of the core objectives that would lead to an effective national FIU is to have absolute trust amongst national and international stakeholders before sensitive information will be exchanged with confidence2. This means that the FIU should establish and maintain a high level of credibility, professionalism, and integrity in its operations, and ensure that the information it receives and disseminates is protected and used appropriately. The FIU should also comply with the Egmont Group’s principles and standards for information exchange, and foster a culture of mutual trust and cooperation with other FIUs and relevant authorities3.
The other three options are incorrect because:
The FIU must operate from physically separated premises from other law enforcement agencies and government offices is not a core objective that the Egmont Group suggests for an effective national FIU. While the FIU should have operational independence and autonomy, and be free from undue influence or interference, it does not necessarily have to be physically separated from other agencies or offices. The FIU may be located within the judicial, law enforcement, administrative, or hybrid model, depending on the country’s legal and institutional framework4.
The FIU meets the Egmont Group assessment criteria is not a core objective that the Egmont Group suggests for an effective national FIU. While meeting the Egmont Group assessment criteria is a requirement for becoming and remaining a member of the Egmont Group, it is not an objective in itself. The assessment criteria are based on the FATF recommendations and the Egmont Group’s own documents, and they serve as a benchmark for evaluating the FIU’s compliance and effectiveness5.
The FIU must be able to promote the value of the government’s commitment to embed a corruption free society within the country is not a core objective that the Egmont Group suggests for an effective national FIU. While the FIU may contribute to the prevention and detection of corruption, as well as the recovery of illicit assets, by analyzing and sharing financial intelligence, it is not the sole or primary responsibility of the FIU to promote the value of the government’s commitment to embed a corruption free society within the country. This is a broader and more complex goal that involves multiple actors and factors, such as political will, legal framework, institutional capacity, civil society, media, and international cooperation.
References:
1: ACAMS, CAMS Study Guide, 6th Edition, Chapter 3, p. 64 2: Egmont Group, Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units Principles for Information Exchange Between Financial Intelligence Units, June 2013, 3, p. 2 3: Egmont Group, Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units Principles for Information Exchange Between Financial Intelligence Units, June 2013, 3, p. 3-4 4: ACAMS, CAMS Study Guide, 6th Edition, Chapter 3, p. 67 5: Egmont Group, Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units Support and Compliance Process, June 2013, [6], p. 3-4 : ACAMS, CAMS Study Guide, 6th Edition, Chapter 4, p. 91-92
Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) are responsible for:
the timely dissemination of cases to law enforcement agencies.
responding to requests from law enforcement agencies for information contained in regulatory reports.
sharing evidence with other FIUs.
receiving confirmed reports about committed crimes from accountable and reporting institutions.
Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) are national agencies that collect, analyze, and disseminate information on suspicious or unusual financial activity, such as money laundering and terrorist financing, to relevant authorities. One of their main functions is to disseminate the results of their analysis to law enforcement agencies in a timely manner, so that they can initiate investigations or prosecutions. This is also one of the standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global body that sets the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CFT) policies and recommendations. The other options are not the primary responsibilities of FIUs, although they may perform them as part of their mandate or in cooperation with other agencies.
References:
What are Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs)? | Dow Jones
Financial Intelligence Units: An Overview - IMF
Financial Intelligence Units - Egmont Group
FATF Recommendation 29 - Financial Intelligence Units (page 17)
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