Free ACAMS CAMS Practice Exam with Questions & Answers | Set: 8

The first step in designing an effective controls framework using a risk-based approach is conducting a risk assessment. This identifies and evaluates inherent risks, providing the basis for determining which controls are necessary and how they should be prioritized.

Percentage change in transaction monitoring alerts escalated for investigation and number/percentage of senior PEPs onboarded are key risk indicators that can highlight shifts in the inherent risk profile of the customer base, enabling leadership to proactively address emerging financial crime risks.

The First Line of Defense (1LoD) consists of customer-facing business units (e.g., relationship managers, front-office staff, and operational teams). Their primary responsibility in financial crime risk management is to implement AML/CFT controls as part of daily operations. This includes Collecting complete customer information.

The First Line of Defense is responsible for conducting Know Your Customer (KYC) and Customer Due Diligence (CDD) during onboarding and throughout the customer relationship. Ensuring that all relevant customer details (e.g., identity, business purpose, ownership structure) are accurately collected and documented is crucial for mitigating financial crime risks.

Fingerprint is an inherent factor because it is a biometric trait - something the user is. Inherent factors rely on physical or behavioral characteristics such as fingerprints, facial recognition, or voice, which are unique to the individual.

A: “Effective training includes practical examples and use cases tailored to the business.”

B: “Firms must keep accurate records of all AML/CFT training, including completion logs.”

D: “Staff should be aware of the consequences of non-compliance with AML/CFT obligations.”(CAMS 6th Edition, AML/CFT Training and Awareness)

Incorrect:

C: Training should be tailored and role-specific.

E: Third-party trainers are not required for effective training.

AI-powered dashboards summarizing flagged transactions are the most effective feature for improving investigator efficiency, as they consolidate and present relevant data from multiple sources in a structured, actionable format - reducing time spent on manual data gathering and enabling quicker decision-making.

Professional service providers can be misused as enablers of money laundering when they abuse their trusted positions and expertise. FATF guidance highlights several risks linked to such abuse.

The creation of shell companies is a common method used to obscure beneficial ownership and facilitate placement or layering of illicit funds. Similarly, opening third-party accounts to mask the true client identity directly undermines transparency and due diligence requirements.

Additionally, actively directing or facilitating the structuring or movement of illicit funds constitutes direct involvement in money laundering schemes and is a serious criminal offense.

By contrast, opening estate or trust accounts for legitimate, transparent purposes does not inherently pose a financial crime risk when proper due diligence is applied.

This scenario presents multiple classic money laundering red flags, particularly within the life insurance sector, which is recognized by FATF as vulnerable to misuse due to its investment and payout features.

The use of an offshore trust in a jurisdiction with no clear link to the customer raises concerns about concealment of beneficial ownership and layering. Criminals frequently use trusts and offshore structures to obscure the origin and destination of illicit funds.

The client’s request to split premium payments into multiple transactions to avoid bank charges is indicative of structuring, a known money laundering technique used to evade monitoring and reporting thresholds.

Furthermore, the lack of a legitimate source of wealth or income consistent with the high-value policy is a significant red flag. Purchasing high-value insurance products with no apparent financial means is a common placement method for laundering illicit proceeds.

While fraud or sanctions evasion could be relevant in other contexts, the combination of structuring, unexplained wealth, offshore structures, and non-residency most strongly indicates money laundering risk.

Verifying a customer’s identity is a fundamental CDD requirement under the FATF Recommendations, ensuring you know who your customer is.

Identifying the beneficial owner is required to uncover the natural persons ultimately controlling or benefiting from an account, closing the gap that would allow misuse of corporate vehicles.