Acams CAMS Exam - Topic 3 Question 104 Discussion

Actual exam question for Acams's CAMS exam

Question #: 104
Topic #: 3

[All CAMS Questions]

A compliance analyst has recently investigated an account where money was deposited in amounts below the reporting limit and almost entirely withdrawn in a foreign country. Which type of money laundering is the compliance analyst potentially identifying?

ATrade-based

BCheck Kiting

CStructuring

DMicrostructuring

Show Suggested Answer

Suggested Answer: D

Microstructuring refers to breaking up large transactions into multiple, smaller transactions, each below reporting thresholds, to avoid detection (''smurfing''). In this scenario, deposits are consistently below the reporting limit---indicative of microstructuring (B). While ''structuring'' (C) is the general term, microstructuring specifically describes the use of very small amounts, often over a prolonged period, which matches this case. The CAMS 6th Edition and FinCEN guidance both recognize microstructuring as a prevalent money laundering typology. Reference:

CAMS 6th Edition, Chapter 3: ''Detection and Reporting of Suspicious Transactions,'' Section: Structuring and Microstructuring

FinCEN, ''Advisory on Structuring and Smurfing,'' 2014

by Chanel at Oct 14, 2025, 08:22 PM

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Rosendo

2 days ago

Yeah, but the withdrawals make C the best choice here.

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Kanisha

21 days ago

I feel like A) Trade-based could apply if there's more context.

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Mona

26 days ago

True, but C is more common in these cases.

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Candra

1 month ago

What about D) Microstructuring? Seems relevant too.

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Adaline

1 month ago

I agree, it fits the pattern.

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Goldie

1 month ago

I think it's C) Structuring.

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Willow

2 months ago

Totally agree, it's all about avoiding those reporting limits!

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Laurena

2 months ago

I thought trade-based was more common for this type of activity.

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Claribel

2 months ago

Wait, is microstructuring even a real thing?

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Salome

2 months ago

Definitely C, that's classic structuring behavior.

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Noe

2 months ago

Microstructuring, huh? Sounds like someone's been watching too many crime dramas. C) Structuring is where it's at, my dudes.

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Jovita

2 months ago

A) Trade-based money laundering? Nah, this sounds more like good old-fashioned C) Structuring to me.

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Caren

3 months ago

B) Check Kiting sounds like the right answer here. Shuffling money between accounts to create the illusion of legitimate funds.

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Alishia

3 months ago

Sounds like microstructuring to me.

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Earleen

3 months ago

I'd go with D) Microstructuring. Splitting up deposits to stay under the radar is a sneaky way to launder cash.

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Avery

3 months ago

Hmm, I'm not sure if this is Structuring or Microstructuring. I'll have to think through the definitions of each one more carefully before deciding.

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Deeann

4 months ago

Definitely C) Structuring. Trying to avoid reporting requirements is a classic money laundering technique.

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Horace

4 months ago

I'm pretty confident this is Microstructuring. The small deposits and foreign withdrawal fit that pattern. I'll mark that as my answer.

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Nieves

4 months ago

Okay, I've got this. The key details are the deposits below the reporting limit and the foreign withdrawal. That points to Structuring as the type of money laundering the analyst is identifying.

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Sharan

4 months ago

I'm a bit confused on the difference between Structuring and Microstructuring. I'll have to review those concepts again before answering this.

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Graham

4 months ago

Hmm, this seems like a tricky one. I'm thinking it could be Structuring or Microstructuring, since the deposits were below the reporting limit and the money was withdrawn in another country.

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