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.
[Reference: ACAMS CAMS Study Guide – 6th Edition, Chapter:Recognizing and Reporting Suspicious Activity– Section:Red Flags for Money Services Businesses, , , , , , , ]
