ACAMS Updated CAMS Exam Questions and Answers by aniyah

Transaction monitoring alerts requirefurther analysisto determine whether they indicategenuine suspicious activity or a false positive.

Option C (Correct):Requesting information from the relationship manager helps gather customer background details, past transaction patterns, and business rationale.

Option A (Incorrect):Below-the-line testing assesses system effectiveness but does not resolve an immediate AML alert.

Option B (Incorrect):Directly contacting a counterparty bank may violate privacy regulations and should only be done if escalation is required.

Option D (Incorrect):Restricting access without due diligence may lead to regulatory and reputational risks.

Best Practices for Investigating AML Alerts:

Review transaction history and customer risk profile.

Engage the relationship manager for business context.

Escalate to AML compliance teams if red flags persist.

Money launderersexploit corporate structuresthat offeranonymityandreduced transparency.

Option A (Correct):Nominee shareholders and directorscan be used tohide true beneficial ownership.

Option C (Correct):Bearer sharesallowownership to transfer anonymously, amajor AML risk.

Option E (Correct):Tax haven companieswithsecrecy lawsare frequently used formoney laundering.

Option B (Incorrect):A private companywithout activitydoes not inherently pose anAML risk.

Option D (Incorrect):LLCscan be transparentif properKYC and reporting measuresare in place.

U.S. AML lawshave significantextraterritorial effectsdue tothe dominance of the U.S. dollar in global finance.

Option C (Correct):Section 319(b) of the USA PATRIOT Actallows theseizure of funds from foreign correspondent bank accountsin the U.S.

Option D (Correct):OFAC sanctionscan affectnon-U.S. entitiesif theyengage in prohibited transactions using U.S. dollars.

Option A (Incorrect):TheTravel Rule applies only to financial institutions under U.S. jurisdiction.

Option B (Incorrect):TheAML Act of 2020strengthensU.S. financial crime enforcement, butdoes not govern all USD transactions worldwide.

The first step in a financial investigation is to review and analyze allinternalsources of information related to the suspicious transaction.

Option C (Correct):Gathering and assessing internal data helps investigators establish a baseline for normal vs. suspicious customer behavior. This includes reviewing KYC (Know Your Customer) documentation, transaction history, and any previous alerts on the customer.

Option B (Incorrect):This is part of the investigation, but an investigator first needs togatherdata before determining consistency with expected behavior.

Option A (Incorrect):An FIU is typically contactedafterinternal analysis has been completed and a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) is warranted.

Option D (Incorrect):External information is useful, but internal data should be reviewed first to confirm whether a case needs escalation.