Free ACAMS CAMS Practice Exam with Questions & Answers | Set: 4

The risk-based approach (RBA) is a foundational principle of FATF standards. It requires countries, regulators, and financial institutions to identify, assess, and understand their money laundering and terrorist financing risks.

Once risks are understood, entities must apply proportionate mitigation measures. Higher risks require stronger controls, while lower risks may justify simplified measures. However, no risk is ignored or exempted from mitigation.

Regulators do not expect all residual risks to be reduced to low; rather, risks must be managed within an acceptable risk appetite. Resource allocation under an RBA prioritizes AML/CFT activities, not unrelated tasks.

Therefore, the correct definition of an RBA focuses on understanding and managing risk proportionately.

D: NGOs play an important role in raising awareness about money laundering, lobbying for strong AML/CFT laws, and educating the public and stakeholders about the risks and consequences.

“NGOs help combat money laundering primarily through advocacy, education, and raising public and industry awareness.”(CAMS 6th Edition, Role of NGOs in AML/CFT)

The FATF’s core role is to enhance international cooperation against money laundering and terrorist financing through setting global standards (“Recommendations”) and issuing guidance.

“The FATF is an intergovernmental body whose purpose is the development and promotion of national and international policies to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.”

The FATF does not have authority to oversee FIUs, nor does it regulate financial markets directly.

The UN Security Council has the authority to impose sanctions specifically to maintain or restore international peace and security.

When reviewing business operations of a Money Services Business (MSB), it is critical to identify behaviors that indicate potential money laundering activity. TheCAMS Study Guide – 6th Editionoutlines severalred flagscommonly associated with MSBs.

Option Ais correct:

A customer beinghesitant to provide beneficiary information, such as the name or address, is a red flag. It may indicate attempts to hide the true purpose or recipient of the funds and could suggeststructuring or layering activity.

Option Dis correct:

A customer usingmultiple accounts under different namesto conduct transactions is a strong red flag. This could indicate efforts toobscure ownership, avoid detection, or conductsuspicious structuringbehavior to stay below reporting thresholds.

Option Bis incorrect:

While large cash deposits from cash-intensive businesses may require further review, they are not inherently suspicious unlessinconsistent with the nature of the business or transaction volume.

Option Cis incorrect:

Currency exchanges under the reporting threshold, even from high-risk jurisdictions, are not in themselves red flags unless they show a pattern ofstructuringor are part oflarger suspicious behavior.

Option Eis incorrect:

Frequent small-dollar transfers to a native country may benormal remittance behaviorand only become suspicious if tied to additional indicators such asstructuring or third-party involvement.

Among insurance products, group insurance products are generally considered the lowest risk for money laundering, according to FATF and insurance-sector AML guidance.

Group insurance policies are typically employer-sponsored, cover a large number of individuals, and involve limited individual control over premium payments, beneficiaries, or payouts. These characteristics significantly reduce the opportunity for misuse as a money laundering vehicle.

By contrast, permanent life insurance policies and annuities often include investment components, cash surrender values, or flexible premium structures, which increase their attractiveness for laundering illicit funds. Cash-secured products may also present placement or layering risks depending on structure and liquidity.

Therefore, group insurance products pose the lowest inherent AML risk.

Public-private partnerships facilitate strategic information exchange between FIUs and obliged entities and operational information sharing between public authorities and obliged entities, improving collaboration and effectiveness in detecting and preventing financial crime.