Free Practice Questions for ACAMS CAMS Exam

Independent testing is critical for the third line of defense to provide unbiased and effective oversight, ensuring that reviews and audits are objective and free from influence by the first or second lines of defense.

Adverse media screening seeks to identify reputational or financial crime risk by:

B: Identifying links to criminal activity or sanctions.

C: Monitoring regulatory actions and updates for risk associations.

D: Regularly scanning news and public records for negative information.

“Adverse media screening involves collecting and reviewing publicly available information, news, and regulatory actions to detect links to criminal activity or reputational risks.”

(CAMS 6th Edition, Adverse Media Screening; FATF Guidance)

Incorrect:

A and E: Customer sentiment and credit scores are not core to adverse media screening.

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.

Terms of Reference (ToR) are a fundamental governance document that define how a committee operates, makes decisions, and fulfills its responsibilities. Regulatory guidance and corporate governance best practices emphasize clarity and accountability in committee mandates.

The extent of power and decision-making authority must be clearly defined to ensure members understand what decisions they are authorized to make and where escalation is required. This prevents overlaps or governance gaps.

The composition and structure of the committee, including membership criteria and roles, ensures appropriate expertise and representation. This is essential for effective oversight, particularly in AML/CFT and risk committees.

Delegation of authority outlines how responsibilities may be assigned or escalated, supporting efficient decision-making while maintaining accountability.

Organization charts and company culture statements are not typically core components of a ToR, as they do not define operational authority or governance mechanics.

Residual risk represents the remaining level of risk after considering the effectiveness of controls. Under a risk-based approach, strong controls reduce risk, while weak or ineffective controls increase it.

In this scenario, the inherent risk is assessed as moderate, meaning the underlying exposure is neither low nor extreme. However, the controls are evaluated as less than satisfactory, indicating that existing measures are not adequately mitigating the identified risks.

When controls are weak, residual risk increases above the inherent risk level, as vulnerabilities remain unaddressed. Regulators expect financial institutions to escalate residual risk ratings and implement remediation plans in such cases.

Therefore, the most likely residual risk conclusion is high, reflecting the combination of moderate inherent risk and ineffective controls. This outcome aligns with AML best practice and regulatory expectations.

A: FIs should ensure they have a general understanding of virtual assets and VASP operations to assess risks accurately.

C: Enhanced KYC measures are recommended for VASPs due to their higher ML/TF risk profile.

“FIs must understand the business model and risk of VASPs and apply enhanced due diligence as required by FATF and regulatory guidance.”(CAMS 6th Edition, Virtual Assets and VASPs; FATF Guidance)

Incorrect:

B: While monitoring transactions is important, it’s not a primary initial consideration for onboarding.

D: The FI’s own holdings are not relevant to due diligence on VASPs.

A key regulatory expectation for transaction monitoring systems is flexibility and adaptability. Financial crime risks evolve rapidly, and institutions must be able to respond quickly to new typologies, threats, and regulatory guidance.

The ability to build, iterate, and test rules enables compliance teams to rapidly adjust monitoring scenarios, thresholds, and logic as new risks emerge. This capability allows institutions to implement changes without lengthy system redevelopment, ensuring timely and proportionate responses to financial crime threats.

While cloud deployment and AI integration can enhance scalability and analytics, they do not directly address the need for rapid rule changes. Configurable reporting supports oversight and governance but does not directly affect detection responsiveness.

Therefore, rule agility is the most critical characteristic for rapid response.

United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions are a key international tool established under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. Their primary purpose is to maintain or restore international peace and security, not to punish states or provide economic advantage.

Sanctions may include asset freezes, travel bans, arms embargoes, or targeted measures against individuals and entities. These measures are designed to influence behavior, prevent escalation of conflict, and support diplomatic solutions.

The use of force is separate from sanctions and requires explicit authorization. Sanctions are not intended to be indefinite and are regularly reviewed and adjusted based on effectiveness and humanitarian considerations.

While sanctions may exert pressure on governments or actors, they are not intended as punitive measures but as preventive and corrective tools aligned with international law.