ACAMS CAMS (Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (the 6th edition)) Practice Test 26

Question 250

The compliance officer wants to distinguish innocent explanations from abuse: A nonprofit fundraiser channels emergency donations through an opaque crowdfunding account and instant withdrawals. Which review is most directly relevant?

  1. Inspect underlying invoices, company substance, and asset beneficiaries
  2. Map directors, incorporation agents, bank accounts, and controllers
  3. Verify campaign organizer, receiving wallets, and final use evidence
  4. Compare audited statements, tax returns, and actual deposit provenance
  5. Examine trust deeds, amendments, settlor powers, and distribution instructions
  6. Seek mandate agreements and evidence of actual decision authority

Explanation

Correct Answer

C:

The campaign's stated narrative is insufficient without payout traceability. The proposed review can distinguish the competing explanations in this case without substituting the unrelated checks needed for a tax adviser creates repeated artificial loss-making entities whose transfers fund….

Incorrect Answers

A:

When testing the contrasting pattern of a nonprofit fundraiser channels emergency donations through an opaque crowdfunding…, remember that substantive trading evidence helps distinguish genuine tax planning from fictitious offsets. The inquiry is suited to a tax adviser creates repeated artificial loss-making entities whose transfers fund personal luxury…; the requested evidence must instead address a nonprofit fundraiser channels emergency donations through an opaque crowdfunding account and….

B:

Connecting entities reveals structures not visible when each company is assessed separately; the observed record here instead involves a nonprofit fundraiser channels emergency donations through an opaque crowdfunding…. It might establish facts where a company-service provider registers dozens of firms sharing directors, addresses, and inactive…, but those records would not test the observed pattern: a nonprofit fundraiser channels emergency donations through an opaque crowdfunding account and….

D:

The relevant alternative mechanism is different from a nonprofit fundraiser channels emergency donations through an opaque crowdfunding…: Conflicts among independent records undermine the claim that funds represent trading income. It seeks evidence about an accountant certifies revenue for a client despite bank receipts that sharply diverge from tax…; the allegation under review instead involves a nonprofit fundraiser channels emergency donations through an opaque crowdfunding account and….

E:

Compared with the stated facts about a nonprofit fundraiser channels emergency donations through an opaque crowdfunding…, legal documentation should identify relevant parties and persons exercising effective control. That review would be useful if a trustee directs distributions to beneficiaries omitted from a family's original trust…, but it would not resolve the central uncertainty in a nonprofit fundraiser channels emergency donations through an opaque crowdfunding account and….

F:

This is not the central mechanism when a nonprofit fundraiser channels emergency donations through an opaque crowdfunding…; instructions and control arrangements reveal the true decision-maker beyond corporate registers. The inquiry is suited to a nominee director signs transactions on instruction from an undisclosed offshore client; the requested evidence must instead address a nonprofit fundraiser channels emergency donations through an opaque crowdfunding account and….

Question 251

After receiving a referral that a trade team assumes a private sanctions-screening vendor's advisory is binding legal interpretation., what inquiry should the AFC team prioritize to substantiate the issue?

  1. Extract root causes and compare with branch reporting controls
  2. Obtain formal legal-process details and local counsel's assessment
  3. Match the FIU indicators to the bank's customer and trade data
  4. Collect shipping-route, counterparty, and free-zone activity data
  5. Identify the counterpart FIU and applicable cooperation mechanism
  6. Read the primary sanctions regulation and competent authority FAQ

Explanation

Correct Answer

F:

Legal text and official interpretive statements control the obligation. For the supported action of read the primary sanctions regulation and competent authority faq in this verification review involving a trade team assumes a private sanctions-screening vendor's advisory is binding legal…, the proposed review can distinguish the competing explanations in this case without substituting the unrelated checks needed for a supervisor publishes an enforcement case about missed cash reporting by small branches.

Incorrect Answers

A:

Compared with the stated facts about a trade team assumes a private sanctions-screening vendor's advisory is binding legal…, the value of the case lies in identifying transferable failure mechanisms. It might establish facts where a supervisor publishes an enforcement case about missed cash reporting by small branches, but those records would not test the observed pattern: a trade team assumes a private sanctions-screening vendor's advisory is binding legal interpretation.

B:

This is not the central mechanism when a trade team assumes a private sanctions-screening vendor's advisory is binding legal…; a verified request identifies what preservation or disclosure obligations actually arise. This would divert the fact-finding effort toward an overseas police unit asks a bank employee to preserve client data without a recognized local… without resolving the key question raised by a trade team assumes a private sanctions-screening vendor's advisory is binding legal interpretation.

C:

When testing the contrasting pattern of a trade team assumes a private sanctions-screening vendor's advisory is binding legal…, remember that internal mapping determines whether the published pattern is actually present. It seeks evidence about a regional FIU report identifies a new invoice-manipulation scheme involving the bank's trade…; the allegation under review instead involves a trade team assumes a private sanctions-screening vendor's advisory is binding legal interpretation.

D:

Operational geography reveals exposures hidden by incorporation data; the observed record here instead involves a trade team assumes a private sanctions-screening vendor's advisory is binding legal…. That review would be useful if a country identifies high exposure to trade-based laundering in free trade zones; a bank uses only…, but it would not resolve the central uncertainty in a trade team assumes a private sanctions-screening vendor's advisory is binding legal interpretation.

E:

Against the reported situation in which a trade team assumes a private sanctions-screening vendor's advisory is binding legal…, information-exchange arrangements determine lawful transmission and use limitations. The inquiry is suited to an FIU receives information suggesting an overseas account is connected to local predicate crime; the requested evidence must instead address a trade team assumes a private sanctions-screening vendor's advisory is binding legal interpretation.

Question 252

A case owner must prepare a defensible decision after the following observation: A retail customer receives a series of unrelated inbound transfers and sends almost all funds overseas immediately. Which examination best resolves the key uncertainty?

  1. Review originator links, transaction timing, and customer explanation
  2. Review supporting documents, transaction timeline, and closure reasoning
  3. Review the escalation matrix, contractual obligations, and decision records
  4. Determine the jurisdiction's filing trigger and documented discovery date

Explanation

Correct Answer

A:

Context determines whether the flow has a legitimate purpose or warrants escalation. The information sought bears directly on the reported facts, whereas an investigator closes a case as not suspicious without recording why multiple cash… would need a separate inquiry.

Incorrect Answers

B:

Compared with the stated facts about a retail customer receives a series of unrelated inbound transfers and sends almost…, documented evidence permits independent challenge of the investigator's judgment. That review would be useful if an investigator closes a case as not suspicious without recording why multiple cash transfers were…, but it would not resolve the central uncertainty in a retail customer receives a series of unrelated inbound transfers and sends almost all funds….

C:

This is not the central mechanism when a retail customer receives a series of unrelated inbound transfers and sends almost…; a clear authority trail shows who can terminate and on what basis. The inquiry is suited to a bank decides to exit a high-risk customer while two divisions disagree about who has approval…; the requested evidence must instead address a retail customer receives a series of unrelated inbound transfers and sends almost all funds….

D:

When testing the contrasting pattern of a retail customer receives a series of unrelated inbound transfers and sends almost…, remember that precise dates clarify whether the investigation met reporting obligations. It might establish facts where a transaction monitoring alert is escalated after the legal deadline because investigators dispute…, but those records would not test the observed pattern: a retail customer receives a series of unrelated inbound transfers and sends almost all funds….

Question 253

An investigator is instructed not to rely on labels alone: A daily sanctions batch screens active customers but excludes recently changed beneficial owners. Which substantive check is needed?

  1. Reconcile screened owner IDs against authoritative updated KYC records
  2. Check original publication dates, outcomes, and subsequent reporting
  3. Inspect payment-message formats and field mapping across payment types
  4. Compare date of birth, geography, employer, and source reliability
  5. Inspect article subject, credibility, recency, and customer identifiers
  6. Review ownership events, adverse intelligence, and refresh trigger records

Explanation

Correct Answer

A:

Population testing reveals which controllers are missing from the screening feed. The information sought bears directly on the reported facts, whereas a news-screening tool presents a decade-old allegation as breaking information about a… would need a separate inquiry.

Incorrect Answers

B:

Against the reported situation in which a daily sanctions batch screens active customers but excludes recently changed…, a chronology determines relevance, reliability, and whether accusations were resolved. That review would be useful if a news-screening tool presents a decade-old allegation as breaking information about a current…, but it would not resolve the central uncertainty in a daily sanctions batch screens active customers but excludes recently changed beneficial owners.

C:

The relevant alternative mechanism is different from a daily sanctions batch screens active customers but excludes recently changed…: The review establishes which available party information is being omitted. The inquiry is suited to a payments engine screens only the recipient name while ignoring originator and intermediary…; the requested evidence must instead address a daily sanctions batch screens active customers but excludes recently changed beneficial owners.

D:

Compared with the stated facts about a daily sanctions batch screens active customers but excludes recently changed…, cross-checking distinctive attributes can distinguish unrelated individuals. It might establish facts where adverse media software flags a person because another individual with the same common name was…, but those records would not test the observed pattern: a daily sanctions batch screens active customers but excludes recently changed beneficial owners.

E:

This is not the central mechanism when a daily sanctions batch screens active customers but excludes recently changed…; human or validated automated resolution is needed before treating media as relevant. This would divert the fact-finding effort toward an automated KYC tool increases a customer's risk score on every adverse-media mention without… without resolving the key question raised by a daily sanctions batch screens active customers but excludes recently changed beneficial owners.

F:

When testing the contrasting pattern of a daily sanctions batch screens active customers but excludes recently changed…, remember that the analysis distinguishes a cadence problem from missing data capture. It seeks evidence about a bank performs KYC refresh only once every five years for high-risk businesses despite major…; the allegation under review instead involves a daily sanctions batch screens active customers but excludes recently changed beneficial owners.

Question 254

The compliance officer wants to distinguish innocent explanations from abuse: A customer profile lists salary income but transactions show unusually large commercial receipts. Which review is most directly relevant?

  1. Review agency correspondence, exit rationale, and legal restrictions
  2. Compare entity, product, jurisdiction, and sanctions-risk inventories
  3. Compare customer occupation, account history, and payment counterparties
  4. Trace fraud referrals to account relationships and AML case updates
  5. Connect the PEP, firm controllers, and actual account funding

Explanation

Correct Answer

C:

The discrepancy determines whether refreshed CDD or investigation is required. The inquiry is proportionate to the particular uncertainty in a customer profile lists salary income but transactions show unusually large commercial receipts, rather than the separate problem of a bank closes an account under investigation without considering an authorized….

Incorrect Answers

A:

When testing the contrasting pattern of a customer profile lists salary income but transactions show unusually large…, remember that the institution must establish whether it has a binding or lawful basis to preserve the relationship. It might establish facts where a bank closes an account under investigation without considering an authorized law-enforcement…, but those records would not test the observed pattern: a customer profile lists salary income but transactions show unusually large commercial receipts.

B:

The exercise reveals uncovered activities and related control owners; the observed record here instead involves a customer profile lists salary income but transactions show unusually large…. This would divert the fact-finding effort toward a high-risk subsidiary is included in the enterprise risk assessment but not in the… without resolving the key question raised by a customer profile lists salary income but transactions show unusually large commercial receipts.

D:

The relevant alternative mechanism is different from a customer profile lists salary income but transactions show unusually large…: A linked customer view establishes whether relevant signals reached appropriate teams. That review would be useful if a fraud team sees mule-account patterns that the AML team never incorporates into customer risk…, but it would not resolve the central uncertainty in a customer profile lists salary income but transactions show unusually large commercial receipts.

E:

Compared with the stated facts about a customer profile lists salary income but transactions show unusually large…, tracing relationships and incoming payments tests the asserted economic basis. The inquiry is suited to a new customer is a PEP whose funds arrive from a closely held firm with undisclosed controllers; the requested evidence must instead address a customer profile lists salary income but transactions show unusually large commercial receipts.

Question 255

A case owner must prepare a defensible decision after the following observation: A monitoring engine receives transaction dates as free-form strings and misorders transfers across time zones. Which examination best resolves the key uncertainty?

  1. Inspect timestamp formats, source-system offsets, and parsing failures
  2. Trace exit events against open cases, holds, and retention schedules
  3. Review fraud incidence, device risk, and biometric exception rates
  4. Map onboarding, screening, monitoring, investigation, and exit workflows
  5. Check issuing-source validation, document security features, and fraud markers

Explanation

Correct Answer

A:

Technical evidence identifies whether time conversion changed the actual order of events. This evidence request tests the disputed part of a monitoring engine receives transaction dates as free-form strings and misorders transfers across time…; the other inquiry would be better suited to an institution introduces an exit-control process that deletes customers before outstanding….

Incorrect Answers

B:

Compared with the stated facts about a monitoring engine receives transaction dates as free-form strings and misorders…, control dependencies determine whether information must be preserved before closure. It might establish facts where an institution introduces an exit-control process that deletes customers before outstanding…, but those records would not test the observed pattern: a monitoring engine receives transaction dates as free-form strings and misorders transfers across….

C:

This is not the central mechanism when a monitoring engine receives transaction dates as free-form strings and misorders…; evidence determines where additional verification creates measurable value. This would divert the fact-finding effort toward a payment app adds facial recognition to every minor account-profile change despite low observed… without resolving the key question raised by a monitoring engine receives transaction dates as free-form strings and misorders transfers across….

D:

When testing the contrasting pattern of a monitoring engine receives transaction dates as free-form strings and misorders…, remember that a lifecycle map reveals missing controls rather than assuming one product covers all stages. It seeks evidence about a fintech buys a transaction-monitoring platform without any process for verifying customers at…; the allegation under review instead involves a monitoring engine receives transaction dates as free-form strings and misorders transfers across….

E:

Independent authentication adds value beyond extracting characters from a photograph; the observed record here instead involves a monitoring engine receives transaction dates as free-form strings and misorders…. That review would be useful if an e-KYC provider verifies an image of an identity document but never validates its issuer or…, but it would not resolve the central uncertainty in a monitoring engine receives transaction dates as free-form strings and misorders transfers across….

Question 256

A relationship review has surfaced this activity: A firm expands into a high-risk remittance corridor but leaves enterprise risk scores unchanged for a year. Which information source would be most decisive for verification?

  1. Map new corridor activity and customer segments to risk factors
  2. Compare onboarded correspondent services with board-approved boundaries
  3. Review model design ownership and audit team responsibilities
  4. Segment transactions by corridor, beneficiary, purpose, and sector

Explanation

Correct Answer

A:

The analysis identifies changed business conditions requiring fresh assessment. Its value comes from checking the relevant parties and records implicated here; a board approves restricted correspondent banking but sales continues to onboard… calls for different evidence.

Incorrect Answers

B:

When testing the contrasting pattern of a firm expands into a high-risk remittance corridor but leaves enterprise risk scores…, remember that the review pinpoints deals approved outside intended risk tolerances. The inquiry is suited to a board approves restricted correspondent banking but sales continues to onboard nested-payment…; the requested evidence must instead address a firm expands into a high-risk remittance corridor but leaves enterprise risk scores unchanged for….

C:

The division of duties identifies self-review threats to independent assurance; the observed record here instead involves a firm expands into a high-risk remittance corridor but leaves enterprise risk scores…. It might establish facts where internal audit designs the transaction monitoring rules it must later assess, but those records would not test the observed pattern: a firm expands into a high-risk remittance corridor but leaves enterprise risk scores unchanged for….

D:

Against the reported situation in which a firm expands into a high-risk remittance corridor but leaves enterprise risk scores…, meaningful differentiation separates higher-exposure flows from routine legitimate activity. This would divert the fact-finding effort toward an institution rates all foreign transactions high-risk without considering destination, customer,… without resolving the key question raised by a firm expands into a high-risk remittance corridor but leaves enterprise risk scores unchanged for….

Question 257

The compliance officer wants to distinguish innocent explanations from abuse: A news-screening tool presents a decade-old allegation as breaking information about a current customer. Which review is most directly relevant?

  1. Reconcile screened owner IDs against authoritative updated KYC records
  2. Inspect article subject, credibility, recency, and customer identifiers
  3. Check original publication dates, outcomes, and subsequent reporting
  4. Review ownership events, adverse intelligence, and refresh trigger records

Explanation

Correct Answer

C:

A chronology determines relevance, reliability, and whether accusations were resolved. The proposed review can distinguish the competing explanations in this case without substituting the unrelated checks needed for a daily sanctions batch screens active customers but excludes recently changed beneficial….

Incorrect Answers

A:

When testing the contrasting pattern of a news-screening tool presents a decade-old allegation as breaking information about…, remember that population testing reveals which controllers are missing from the screening feed. The inquiry is suited to a daily sanctions batch screens active customers but excludes recently changed beneficial owners; the requested evidence must instead address a news-screening tool presents a decade-old allegation as breaking information about a current….

B:

Human or validated automated resolution is needed before treating media as relevant; the observed record here instead involves a news-screening tool presents a decade-old allegation as breaking information about…. It might establish facts where an automated KYC tool increases a customer's risk score on every adverse-media mention without…, but those records would not test the observed pattern: a news-screening tool presents a decade-old allegation as breaking information about a current….

D:

The relevant alternative mechanism is different from a news-screening tool presents a decade-old allegation as breaking information about…: The analysis distinguishes a cadence problem from missing data capture. It seeks evidence about a bank performs KYC refresh only once every five years for high-risk businesses despite major…; the allegation under review instead involves a news-screening tool presents a decade-old allegation as breaking information about a current….

Question 258

An institution needs corroboration of a suspected weakness: A nonprofit sends numerous low-value remittances to a facilitator in a conflict zone after a disaster appeal. Which targeted evidence would best clarify the facts?

  1. Verify relief projects, local partners, and final beneficiaries
  2. Identify controlling owners and check applicable sanctions rules
  3. Compare pricing, cash patterns, and known predicate-crime intelligence
  4. Trace recipient organizations and ultimate payment beneficiaries

Explanation

Correct Answer

A:

The charitable purpose must be checked against disbursement evidence and recipient relationships. The inquiry is proportionate to the particular uncertainty in a nonprofit sends numerous low-value remittances to a facilitator in a conflict zone after a disaster…, rather than the separate problem of a parts distributor attempts a payment to a company controlled by a designated person but….

Incorrect Answers

B:

The relevant alternative mechanism is different from a nonprofit sends numerous low-value remittances to a facilitator in a conflict zone…: Ownership records and the relevant jurisdiction's control standards determine whether a restriction applies. It seeks evidence about a parts distributor attempts a payment to a company controlled by a designated person but uses a…; the allegation under review instead involves a nonprofit sends numerous low-value remittances to a facilitator in a conflict zone after a….

C:

Compared with the stated facts about a nonprofit sends numerous low-value remittances to a facilitator in a conflict zone…, multiple indicators clarify whether unusual trading practices are connected to criminal financing. That review would be useful if an illicit trade network infiltrates local payment channels and distorts competition with…, but it would not resolve the central uncertainty in a nonprofit sends numerous low-value remittances to a facilitator in a conflict zone after a….

D:

This is not the central mechanism when a nonprofit sends numerous low-value remittances to a facilitator in a conflict zone…; following disbursements establishes whether money serves the stated charitable purpose or is diverted. The inquiry is suited to a charity receives small lawful donations and a trustee secretly diverts the proceeds to a…; the requested evidence must instead address a nonprofit sends numerous low-value remittances to a facilitator in a conflict zone after a….

Question 259

An unusual pattern requires validation: A shipping broker uses frequent last-minute vessel name and flag changes during sanctioned-region voyages. Which records most directly address the stated exposure?

  1. Compare audited statements, tax returns, and actual deposit provenance
  2. Compare IMO identifiers, ownership, AIS gaps, and port-call records
  3. Obtain underlying client ledgers and segregated payment records
  4. Map related purchasers and compare independent market valuations

Explanation

Correct Answer

B:

Persistent vessel identity and movement evidence can expose misleading trade documentation. This evidence request tests the disputed part of a shipping broker uses frequent last-minute vessel name and flag changes during sanctioned-region voyages; the other inquiry would be better suited to an accountant certifies revenue for a client despite bank receipts that sharply diverge….

Incorrect Answers

A:

This is not the central mechanism when a shipping broker uses frequent last-minute vessel name and flag changes during…; conflicts among independent records undermine the claim that funds represent trading income. This would divert the fact-finding effort toward an accountant certifies revenue for a client despite bank receipts that sharply diverge from tax… without resolving the key question raised by a shipping broker uses frequent last-minute vessel name and flag changes during sanctioned-region….

C:

Records linking each receipt and transfer to the real client restore traceability; the observed record here instead involves a shipping broker uses frequent last-minute vessel name and flag changes during…. That review would be useful if a bookkeeping firm pools client receipts in its own account and remits them without customer-level…, but it would not resolve the central uncertainty in a shipping broker uses frequent last-minute vessel name and flag changes during sanctioned-region….

D:

Against the reported situation in which a shipping broker uses frequent last-minute vessel name and flag changes during…, the ownership sequence and price support distinguish development value from circular sales. The inquiry is suited to a land developer rapidly sells the same parcel among related entities at escalating prices; the requested evidence must instead address a shipping broker uses frequent last-minute vessel name and flag changes during sanctioned-region….

Question 260

A second-line reviewer is examining this lead: A nominee director signs transactions on instruction from an undisclosed offshore client. Which evidence should carry the most weight?

  1. Review deliverables, engagement terms, and beneficial ownership
  2. Obtain controller identity and purpose of the corporate structure
  3. Seek mandate agreements and evidence of actual decision authority
  4. Obtain underlying client ledgers and segregated payment records

Explanation

Correct Answer

C:

Instructions and control arrangements reveal the true decision-maker beyond corporate registers. For the supported action of seek mandate agreements and evidence of actual decision authority in this verification review involving a nominee director signs transactions on instruction from an undisclosed offshore client, the information sought bears directly on the reported facts, whereas a professional service provider invoices an offshore entity for vague advisory work… would need a separate inquiry.

Incorrect Answers

A:

When testing the contrasting pattern of a nominee director signs transactions on instruction from an undisclosed offshore…, remember that a legitimate advisory relationship should produce supportable commercial output and known clients. This would divert the fact-finding effort toward a professional service provider invoices an offshore entity for vague advisory work followed by… without resolving the key question raised by a nominee director signs transactions on instruction from an undisclosed offshore client.

B:

Client privilege assertions do not automatically remove applicable identification obligations; the observed record here instead involves a nominee director signs transactions on instruction from an undisclosed offshore…. It seeks evidence about a legal adviser forms companies for a client while refusing to disclose the person providing…; the allegation under review instead involves a nominee director signs transactions on instruction from an undisclosed offshore client.

D:

The relevant alternative mechanism is different from a nominee director signs transactions on instruction from an undisclosed offshore…: Records linking each receipt and transfer to the real client restore traceability. The inquiry is suited to a bookkeeping firm pools client receipts in its own account and remits them without customer-level…; the requested evidence must instead address a nominee director signs transactions on instruction from an undisclosed offshore client.

Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (the 6th edition) (CAMS) Practice Tests