Free CAMS-FCI Questions Attempt

The sources of funds that Bank A should conduct additional scrutiny on are the third-party transfer and the transfer from Bank B. This is because these sources may pose higher risks of money laundering, terrorist financing, fraud, or other illicit activities. Some of the reasons why these sources require more scrutiny are23:

Third-party transfers may involve unknown or unrelated parties that may have ulterior motives or hidden agendas. They may also be used to obscure the origin or destination of funds, or to circumvent sanctions or other regulatory restrictions.

Transfers from Bank B may involve jurisdictions that have weak anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CFT) regimes, high levels of corruption, or significant criminal activity. They may also involve banks that have poor reputation, compliance, or transparency standards.

References:

• Third Party Payments - Wolfsberg Group
• Guidance on Correspondent Banking Services - FATF

Retail banks typically have a high inherent risk of money laundering due to their provision of cash services. This is because cash is a preferred medium of exchange for criminals and terrorists, and retail banks provide a convenient way for them to move large sums of money without detection. Retail banks are also vulnerable to money laundering through the use of false identities and other deceptive practices. (CAMS Manual, 6th Edition, Page 8).

The statement that most accurately characterizes the methods used by transnational criminal organizations is that they routinely engage in many different types of criminal activities as long as they think it will benefit them ©. This is because transnational criminal organizations are flexible and adaptable, and they exploit opportunities and vulnerabilities in different markets and jurisdictions. According to ACAMS2, “Transnational criminal organizations are involved in a wide range of illicit activities, such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, arms trafficking, money laundering, cybercrime, environmental crime, fraud, corruption, and terrorism” (p. 3). They also “operate across borders and regions, using complex networks and structures to evade detection and prosecution” (p. 3).

The other statements are not as accurate or comprehensive as option C. Transnational criminal organizations are unlikely to associate with known terrorist organizations due to the reputational risks (A) is false, as transnational criminal organizations may collaborate or cooperate with terrorist organizations for mutual benefit or convenience, such as sharing resources, routes, or contacts. Transnational criminal organizations are likely to specialize in one particular method and continue to refine that method to escape detection (B) is false, as transnational criminal organizations may diversify or change their methods depending on the circumstances or opportunities, such as shifting products, markets, or modus operandi. Transnational criminal organizations see each other as competitors and rarely cooperate (D) is false, as transnational criminal organizations may form alliances or partnerships with other criminal groups for strategic or tactical reasons, such as sharing information, expertise, or influence.

The correct answer is C because the FI is unable to obtain evidence of required licensing or registration despite suspicion of money transmitting, which is a red flag for money laundering and a violation of federal and state laws. Option A is incorrect because making several deposits in one month that appear to exceed their expected monthly income might not be indicative of suspicious activity, depending on the customer’s profile and source of funds. Option B is incorrect because receiving a large, one-time wire from a law firm might not be indicative of suspicious activity, depending on the customer’s relationship with the law firm and the purpose of the wire. Option D is incorrect because discovering a large number of securities transactions that appear to be related to day trading might not be indicative of suspicious activity, depending on the customer’s investment strategy and risk tolerance.

References: Money transmitter - Wikipedia; The Quick Guide To Money Transmitter Licenses - Surety Bond Insider; Financial Crime Typologies - Intermediate Certificate, Module 3.