Emerging risk: Crowdfunding via social media.

• A. Self-funding by FTFs
• B. Using social media platforms to raise funds (crowdfunding)
• C. Exploitation of natural resources
• D. New payment products like online banking

Answer: (B)

Crowdfunding via social media is an emerging risk because it uses online platforms to raise funds directly from a broad audience outside traditional financial channels. This approach can bypass standard due diligence steps that banks apply to new customers, making it harder to verify who is behind a campaign and where the money ultimately goes. Small, numerous contributions can add up to substantial sums, and the funds can be routed through multiple payment methods, increasing the chance of obscuring origins and beneficiaries. For AML/CFT, this means campaigns need careful scrutiny: verify organizers, assess the legitimacy of the cause, monitor for unusual funding patterns, and apply appropriate due diligence to the campaign and its recipients. The other options don’t capture this fundraising method—self-funding by individuals, exploitation of natural resources, or new payment products like online banking describe different risks or activities that aren’t specifically about raising money through social media platforms.