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The investigator should recommend a SAR/STR be filed regarding the second client’s use of a questionable trust to open an account, as this could indicate an attempt to conceal the source and ownership of funds, and to evade taxes and sanctions. The investigator should also monitor all accounts and entities related to the second client, as they may be involved in illegal activities or pose a high risk to the FI. The investigator should not review all accounts that have opened trust accounts, as this would be too broad and inefficient. The investigator should not inform FI management of deficiencies in their AML program, as this is not their role or responsibility. The investigator should not inform FI management of the start of a serious risk-based investigation, as this may compromise the confidentiality and integrity of the investigation.

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.

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.

The reason why it is important for the casino to maintain control of the output from the provider is that the casino maintains ultimate responsibility for this activity and should maintain control to avoid non-compliance ©. This is because the casino is accountable for its own AML/CFT obligations and cannot delegate or outsource them to a third-party provider. According to the ACAMS Advanced Financial Crimes Investigations Certification Study Guide1, “the FI should ensure that it has adequate oversight and control over any third-party providers that it engages for AML/CFT purposes, such as conducting due diligence, verifying information, or monitoring transactions” (p. 25). The FI should also “review and evaluate the performance and quality of the third-party providers on a regular basis, and address any issues or gaps that may arise” (p. 25).

The other options are not as relevant or accurate as option C. The clients of the casino prefer to know that the casino is keeping their information secure when being held by a third-party (A) is not a reason why the casino should maintain control of the output from the provider, but rather a customer expectation or preference. As with all third-party relationships, proper control must be maintained to ensure profitability (B) is not a reason why the casino should maintain control of the output from the provider, but rather a general business principle or objective. Other casinos are frequently looking to reduce costs and share ideas, so if this relationship is successful, the model can be used by other businesses (D) is not a reason why the casino should maintain control of the output from the provider, but rather a potential benefit or outcome.

The correct answers are B and C because these are the most relevant and reasonable steps for the investigations team to perform enhanced due diligence on the operations of the foreign bank and its customers. Asking for the risk rating, customer profiles, and official licenses would help the team assess the level of risk and compliance of the foreign bank and its customers, who are engaged in a high-risk activity of exporting scrap gold and silver. The other options are not appropriate because they are either premature or ineffective. Rescinding the contract, filing a SAR/STR, or closing the accounts would require more evidence and justification, and they may also damage the relationship with the foreign bank.

References: : Precious Metals & Stones

Weaker cybersecurity controls are a main vulnerability that has led to an increase in ransomware attacks on small businesses, as they make them easier targets for cybercriminals who can exploit their systems and demand payment for restoring access to their data. The other options are not relevant to the vulnerability, as they relate to the consequences or responses of the victims.

The SAR/STR narrative should include the suspicious accounts and transactions identified, as well as the reasons why they are considered suspicious. The narrative should provide a clear and concise description of the activity, the parties involved, the dates, amounts, and frequencies of the transactions, and any other relevant information that would assist law enforcement in understanding the nature and purpose of the activity. The narrative should not include the investigator’s subjective opinion, personal tax records, or supporting documentation that is not essential to explain the suspicious activity. Supporting documentation can be attached separately to the SAR/STR form or provided upon request by law enforcement.

Chain hopping is a technique used by criminals to obscure the traceability of cryptocurrency transactions by converting the funds to a different type of cryptocurrency, often using multiple exchanges or platforms. The other options are not related to chain hopping. References: Advanced CAMS-FCI Study Guide, page 38.

The parties that should be trained on emerging trends and red flags are the financial crimes investigation unit (A) and the branch personnel ©. These parties are directly involved in detecting, investigating, and reporting suspicious activity related to check cashing or other types of fraud or money laundering. According to the ACAMS Advanced Financial Crimes Investigations Certification Study Guide1, “the FI should provide regular and relevant training to its staff on the AML program, policies, procedures, and systems, as well as on the latest typologies, indicators, and best practices for financial crimes investigations” (p. 36). The FI should also “ensure that the training is tailored to the specific roles and responsibilities of the staff, and that it is updated and evaluated periodically” (p. 36).

The other parties are not as relevant or appropriate as options A and C. The loan department (B) is not directly related to check cashing or other types of fraud or money laundering, although it may have some exposure to credit or identity fraud. The senior management (D) is responsible for overseeing and supporting the AML program, but not for conducting or supervising financial crimes investigations. The board of directors (E) is responsible for approving and reviewing the AML program, but not for implementing or monitoring it.

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

The investigator should review all client-signed documents relating to all accounts (A) to check for any discrepancies or red flags. The investigator should also perform secondary scans of the client’s other owners/authorized signers (D) to identify any possible connections or associations with the second client or the Paradise Papers. Additionally, the investigator should prepare a relationship flow chart of all existing accounts (F) to better understand the client’s activities and patterns. These steps are consistent with the ACAMS Advanced Financial Crimes Investigations Certification Study Guide1, which states that investigators should “review all relevant documentation, including account opening documents, transaction records, and customer correspondence” (p. 23), “conduct enhanced due diligence on all parties involved in the investigation” (p. 24), and “use data visualization tools to map out complex relationships and transactions” (p. 25).

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