Unlock Money Laundering Mastery 2025 – Clean Up Your Compliance Skills!

Question: 1 / 400

What indicates a structured transaction in the context of money laundering?

A cash withdrawal just below $10,000

A structured transaction, often referred to as "smurfing," is a technique used in money laundering to evade detection by authorities. The characteristic feature of structured transactions is that they involve breaking down large amounts of illicit money into smaller, less suspicious amounts.

In this context, a cash withdrawal just below $10,000 is an indication of structuring because individuals who are attempting to disguise the source of large cash amounts often withdraw amounts that are deliberately kept under the reporting threshold set by financial institutions. In the United States, for instance, transactions equal to or over $10,000 must be reported to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). By withdrawing amounts just below this limit, launderers aim to avoid triggering mandatory reporting requirements.

The other choices involve activities that do not specifically illustrate the intent to structure transactions around regulatory thresholds. For example, large cash deposits and frequent bank-to-bank transfers can be legitimate banking activities depending on the context. Changing currency frequently may also not necessarily indicate suspicious activity unless there's further context or a pattern suggestive of money laundering.

Get further explanation with Examzify DeepDiveBeta

A large cash deposit into an account

Clients changing their money's currency frequently

Frequent bank-to-bank transfers

Next Question

Report this question

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy