What type of transactions might raise "red flags" in financial monitoring?

Large and frequent transactions are often considered red flags in financial monitoring because they can indicate unusual activity that may be linked to money laundering, fraud, or other financial crimes. When a customer engages in transactions that significantly exceed their normal banking patterns or that are not consistent with their occupation or known financial background, it raises concerns for financial institutions.

Monitoring systems are designed to highlight these kinds of transactions as they may suggest an attempt to evade detection or utilize the financial system for illicit purposes. Such activities can include structuring deposits to avoid detection, rapid transfers of large sums to multiple accounts, or sudden spikes in transaction activity without clear justification.

In contrast, transactions that are consistent and low in value generally do not prompt the same level of scrutiny, as they are more typical of everyday banking behavior. Similarly, transactions that align well with established customer profiles are usually seen as normal and thus do not raise concerns. Transactions below a certain threshold may be monitored but are less likely to be considered suspicious because they tend to fall within typical operational bounds for many customers.