According to the Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) Manual , 6th edition, if a bank's transaction surveillance system triggers an alert for a deposit of 250.000 USD into a client's account, the bank should take the following actions:
* Request information and documentation from the client on the background of the transaction (CAMS Manual, 6th edition, page 46).
* Contact the client advisor to learn if he has any insight on the transaction background (CAMS Manual,
6th edition, page 47).
* Review the transaction background in the bank's transaction platform (CAMS Manual, 6th edition, page
47).
Discarding the alert as a false positive hit and reviewing the alert if the deposit is made in cash should not be done.
The bank should request additional information and documentation from the client to better understand the nature of the transaction. Additionally, the bank should reach out to the client advisor to learn if they have any insight on the transaction background. Finally, the bank should review the transaction background in the bank's transaction platform to determine if any additional alerts or anomalies are present. (CAMS Manual, 6th Edition, Pages 117-118)

The correct answer is C, as mapping scenarios are helpful in mitigating the weakness of not generating alerts when activity is consistently abnormal over a long period of time. Mapping scenarios are used to compare a customer's activity with their expected activity based on their profile, risk rating, or historical behavior1. By using mapping scenarios, the organization can identify customers whose activity deviates significantly from their normal or expected patterns, and flag them for further investigation. Mappingscenarios can also help detect changes in customer behavior over time, and alert the organization of any potential money laundering or terrorist financing risks.: 1: AML Scenarios: Transaction Monitoring Challenges - Unit21, page 1.

A large cash deposit is a potential indicator of money laundering, especially if it is inconsistent with the customer's profile or behavior. Therefore, the bank should ask the customer about the source and purpose of the funds, and verify the information if possible. In this case, the customer claims to have sold a used car and received cash, which may be a reasonable explanation. However, the bank should not rely solely on the customer's statement, but should also monitor the account for any further cash transactions or suspicious activity that may indicate money laundering. For example, the bank should check if the customer withdraws the cash soon after the deposit, transfers the funds to other accounts or jurisdictions, or engages in structuring or smurfing to avoid reporting thresholds.
The bank should not do nothing, as this may expose the bank to regulatory or reputational risks, or facilitate money laundering. The bank should also not file a Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) unless there are other grounds to suspect money laundering, as this may be premature or unnecessary. The bank should not close the account before another issues arise, as this may be disproportionate or discriminatory, and may also alert the customer to the bank's suspicion.
:
[ACAMS Study Guide for the CAMS Certification Examination, 6th Edition], Chapter 4: Conducting or Supporting the Investigation Process, pp. 103-104, 107-108.
Customer Identification Program - Overview, Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council, April 2018, pp. 1-2, 4-5.
Suspicious Activity Reporting - Overview, Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council, April 2018, pp. 1-2, 4-5.
18 AML Analyst Interview Questions (With Example Answers), ResumeCat, accessed on February 9, 2024.

According to the Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (the 6th edition) study guide, one of the main challenges of providing on-line services to customers is the verification of theiridentity and the authentication of their transactions1. The lack of face-to-face contact and the use of electronic documents increase the risk of identity fraud, impersonation, and account takeover2. Therefore, financial institutions offering on-line services need to implement robust customer due diligence (CDD) measures, such as using multiple sources of information, verifying biometric data, and applying risk-based monitoring3.
:
1: CAMS Study Guide, 6th Edition, Chapter 4, Section 4.1, page 103
2: CAMS Study Guide, 6th Edition, Chapter 4, Section 4.2, page 104
3: CAMS Study Guide, 6th Edition, Chapter 4, Section 4.3, page 105

According to the ACAMS CAMS Study Guide (the 6th edition), FIUs are central agencies that receive, analyze, and disseminate financial intelligence to support the detection and prevention of money laundering, terrorist financing, and other financial crimes1. FIUs have different legal powers and functions depending on their type and jurisdiction, but generally they can use various investigative techniques, such as requesting additional information from reporting entities, accessing databases, conducting analysis, and issuing guidance12. FIUs also have access to a wide range of financial information, such as suspicious activity reports, currency transaction reports, cross-border cash declarations, and other relevant data sources, to identify and assess potential illicit activities13. Moreover, FIUs can cooperate and exchange information with domestic and foreign counterparts, subject to certain legal and operational safeguards, to facilitate cross-border investigations and prosecutions of financial crimes14.
References:
ACAMS CAMS Study Guide (the 6th edition), Chapter 5: The Role of the Financial Intelligence Unit in Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing, pages 153-1631 What are Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs)? | Dow Jones Financial Intelligence Units - Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism - MONEYVAL - Coe The role of financial intelligence units in combating money laundering (Chapter 6) - Money Laundering