A client is a wholesale auto business that operates as a used car lot. The client regularly ships vehicles internationally. In a four-month period, the client received wires totaling $ 1,250,000 from a dealer in Benin in West AfricA. All wires originated from Benin and were in increments of $50,000. Account debits made to the account were payable to various transport companies. All incoming checks reference various vehicles purchased. Dock shipping receipts produced by the client to support account activity identify the vehicles but cannot easily be tied to the wires receives. What is the suspicious behavior?
Correct Answer: C
The correct answer is C. Wires received in large, even dollar amounts are a suspicious behavior, as they may indicate an attempt to avoid reporting thresholds or to conceal the source of funds. Large and round numbers are often used by money launderers to simplify calculations or to avoid arousing suspicion12. The other options are not necessarily suspicious, as they may reflect the normal business operations of a wholesale auto business that ships vehicles internationally. The dock shipping receipts match the vehicles (A), vehicles are regularly shipped internationally (B), and account debits are payable to transport companies (D) are all plausible and legitimate activities for such a business. References: ACAMS CAMS Certification Video Training Course3, Module 3: Risks and Methods of Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing, Lesson 2: Methods of Money Laundering ACAMS CAMS Certification Study Guide1, Chapter 3: Risks and Methods of Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing, Section 3.2: Methods of Money Laundering, pp. 79-80
Question 52
An anti-money laundering specialist at a financial institution has received a legal request to provide all transaction records for a specific individual since 2004. Which of the following item s should be delivered?
Correct Answer: A,C,D
Question 53
According to the Financial Action Task Force 40 Recommendations, Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions include
Correct Answer: C
Question 54
A bank maintains a number of United States (U.S.) dollar correspondent accounts for foreign financial institutions. Upon a routine review of a U.S. dollar correspondent account owned by Foreign Bank A, a number of transactions appear to have been originated by Foreign Bank B outside the expected activity for this account. These transactions appear suspicious and a suspicious transaction report was filed by the compliance officer. Which step should the compliance officer take?
Correct Answer: D
According to the FFIEC BSA/AML Manual1, a U.S. bank should have policies, procedures, and processes to monitor and report suspicious activity associated with U.S. dollar drafts, which are bank drafts or checks denominated in U.S. dollars and made available at foreign financial institutions. These drafts are drawn on a U.S. correspondent account by a foreign financial institution and can be used to facilitate money laundering or terrorist financing. The manual states that "[t]he potential for facilitating money laundering or terrorist financing, OFAC violations, and other serious crimes increases when a U.S. bank is unable to identify and adequately understand the transactions of the ultimate users (all or most of whom are outside of the United States) of its account with a foreign correspondent."2 Therefore, the compliance officer should notify Foreign Bank A of the discovery and seek documentation supporting Foreign Bank A was collusive and a willing partner with Foreign Bank B in the activity, as this would indicate a breach of the correspondent banking agreement and a possible violation of U.S. laws and regulations. The compliance officer should also document the findings and actions taken, and escalate the matter to senior management and the board of directors as appropriate. The other options are not the best steps for the compliance officer to take. Option A is not relevant, as the issue is not related to tax evasion, but to money laundering or terrorist financing. Option B is premature, as the compliance officer should first verify the nature and extent of the suspicious activity and the involvement of Foreign Bank A before deciding whether to terminate or restrict the correspondent relationship. Option D is not feasible, as the compliance officer does not have the authority or the means to notify other U.S. financial institutions who maintain U.S. dollar correspondent accounts for Foreign Bank A and Foreign Bank B, and this could also interfere with ongoing investigations or law enforcement actions. References: * FFIEC BSA/AML Manual, Risks Associated with Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing, U.S. Dollar Drafts * Denting Dirty Dollar-Clearing: US Court of Appeals Upholds Money-Laundering Convictions Based on the Use of US Correspondent Banking Accounts, Freshfields Blog * AMLA Expands DOJ Grand Jury Subpoena Power Over Correspondent Bank Accounts and Foreign Banks, Money Laundering News
Question 55
To ensure that an institution's anti-money laundering program is current, which step should be taken?