Correct Answer: B

The best information to share at the very beginning of a well-written SAR/STR narrative is the purpose of the SAR/STR narrative and a general description of the known or alleged violation. This is because this information provides an

overview of why the SAR/STR is being filed and what type of suspicious activity or transaction is involved. It also helps to capture the attention of the reader and set the tone for the rest of the narrative.

References: Reporting Suspicious Activity Certificate, Module 4, page 7.

Correct Answer: B

When writing and submitting SARs/STRs, one should consider the guidelines issued by the national financial intelligence unit (FIU) and local regulator and incorporate any country-specific requirements. This ensures that the reports are

compliant with the relevant laws and regulations and provide useful information to the authorities. The other options are either incorrect or not best practices. References: Advanced CAMS-FCI Study Guide, page 48-49.

Correct Answer: ABD

Financial institutions should perform the following actions to ensure proper data governance:

Establish an appropriate data management method for collecting and storing information. This is important to ensure that the data is consistent, reliable, and accessible for various purposes, such as risk assessment, compliance reporting,

and customer service. Data management methods may include defining data standards, policies, and procedures; implementing data quality controls and validation checks; and using appropriate data storage systems and formats.

Ensure the accuracy of customer identification records and transaction records and appropriately manage data as a prerequisite for the effective use of IT systems. This is important to comply with the anti-money laundering and counter-

terrorist financing (AML/CFT) requirements, such as customer due diligence, transaction monitoring, and suspicious activity reporting. Accurate and complete customer and transaction data also enables financial institutions to use IT systems

more effectively for data analysis, risk management, and decision making.

Periodically validate integrity and accuracy of information used for IT systems such as customer information, customer identification records, and transaction records. This is important to ensure that the data remains up-to-date, relevant, and

reliable over time. Data validation may include verifying the source and quality of the data; identifying and correcting any errors or inconsistencies; and updating or deleting any obsolete or redundant data.

References:

Data Governance for Financial Institutions - Capgemini Small and Medium-Sized Deposit-Taking Institutions (SMSBs) Capital and Liquidity Requirements - OSFI

Correct Answer: C

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.

Correct Answer: C

The investigator should determine that a nephew of the general (Bank A's customer) should be flagged as a senior PEP ? This is because the nephew is related to a senior military official who is a customer of Bank A, which is a high-risk jurisdiction with strict capital controls. According to the ACAMS Advanced Financial Crimes Investigations Certification Study Guide1, "the FI should identify and flag any customers who are PEPs or have close associations with PEPs, such as family members or business partners" (p. 24). The FI should also conduct enhanced due diligence on these customers and monitor their transactions for any suspicious or unusual activity.

The other options are not correct. The investigator should not determine that a nephew of the general should be treated well to avoid reputational damage to the bank (A), as this could compromise the integrity and objectivity of the investigation, as well as expose the bank to legal or regulatory risks. The investigator should not determine that a nephew of the general is a high-net-worth individual (B), as this is not relevant or material to the investigation, as the nephew's wealth does not affect his potential PEP status or risk level. The investigator should not determine that a nephew of the general is a trustworthy source (D), as this could be biased or inaccurate, as the nephew's trustworthiness does not depend on his relation to the general or his involvement in the transaction.

References: 1: ACAMS Advanced Financial Crimes Investigations Certification Study Guide, available at ACAMS

Correct Answer: AD

The investigator should proceed in this situation by conducting the investigation as usual, since the activity in question is not directly connected to the PEP (A) and sending a referral to Sanctions/List Screening, or similar department/

responsible individual, to ensure that the customer due diligence information is up to date (D). These actions are appropriate and prudent, as they allow the investigator to continue their analysis of the suspicious activity without being biased

by the potential PEP status of the customer's relative, and they ensure that the FI has accurate and current information about its customers and their associates. According to the ACAMS Advanced Financial Crimes Investigations Certification

Study Guide1, "the FI should conduct enhanced due diligence on all parties involved in the investigation, including checking various sources of information, such as watch lists, sanctions lists, negative news, and official registries" (p.

24). The FI should also "update the customer profile with any new information obtained during the investigation" (p. 25).

The other options are not correct. The investigator should not refer the newly identified customer's account for closure due to the high risk associated with the potential PEP (B), as this could be premature or disproportionate, as well as

potentially discriminatory or illegal. The investigator should not file a SAR/STR due to the potential involvement of a PEP (E), as this could also be premature or unnecessary, as well as potentially misleading or inaccurate. The investigator

should not use this case as an example to train employees to recognize potential PEPs during their investigation process ? as this could violate confidentiality or data protection laws, as well as compromise the investigation or alert the

customer or their relative of the suspicion.

References: 1: ACAMS Advanced Financial Crimes Investigations Certification Study Guide, available at ACAMS

Correct Answer: B

According to the CAMS manual 6th edition, the USA PATRIOT Act allows the US government to subpoena documents from foreign financial institutions (FIs) that have no presence in the US (option B). The manual states that "The USA PATRIOT Act provides US law enforcement agencies with the power to subpoena documents from foreign banks that maintain correspondent accounts with US banks or have no presence in the United States" (p. 77).

Correct Answer: AD

Here is the exact information from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Guidance for a Risk-Based Approach for Trust and Company Service Providers:

"Understanding the management and ownership structure of a trust is crucial in assessing the ML/TF risk it poses. This includes the identity of all settlors, trustees and beneficiaries, and their respective roles and responsibilities, as well as the

nature and purpose of the trust."

"TCSPs should obtain and maintain up-to-date information on the purpose and intended nature of the business relationship, the source of funds and wealth, and where relevant, the source of funds or wealth of the settlor and beneficiaries."

Based on this information, the correct answers are A and D. Trust and Company Service Providers must understand the responsibility and authority in the structure, as well as the general purpose behind the structure in order to assess the

overall risk of the trust and ensure that any transactions with the trust are legitimate.

Correct Answer: B

The next best course of action for the investigator is to file a SAR/STR on the account activity in relation to a potential funnel account. This is because a funnel account is a type of money laundering scheme that involves depositing funds from multiple sources into a single account, and then transferring them to another account, often in a different jurisdiction. A funnel account can be used to conceal the origin, ownership, and destination of illicit funds, and to evade currency transaction reporting requirements. The investigator should report the suspicious activity to the relevant authorities and document the findings and actions taken. The other options are incorrect because:

A. Completing the monthly review and noting the activity for next month's review is not sufficient, as it delays the reporting of a possible money laundering scheme and exposes the financial institution to regulatory and reputational risks. C. Recommending the account for exit due to frequent global transactions is not appropriate, as it does not address the underlying issue of potential money laundering and may alert the customer of the investigation.

D. No further action is required as the customer is already rated at high-risk and the monthly spending is within expectations is not acceptable, as it ignores the red flags of a funnel account and fails to comply with the anti-money laundering obligations of the financial institution. References: Advanced CAMS-FCI Certification | ACAMS, Section 2: Investigating Financial Crimes, page 9 Leading Complex Investigations Certificate | ACAMS, Module 2: Identifying Red Flags, page 5

Correct Answer: AB

The correct answer is A and B because human smuggling/trafficking and terrorist financing are both predicate offenses for money laundering that could be related to the client's activities. Option C is incorrect because there is no indication of

narcotics trafficking in the scenario. Option D is incorrect because there is no indication of antiques smuggling in the scenario. Option E is incorrect because there is no indication of tax evasion in the scenario.

References: Advanced CAMS-FCI Certification Handbook, page 10; Financial Crime Typologies - Intermediate Certificate, Module 2.