Which term refers to the act of coercing someone to surrender funds or property?

Study for the Certified Bank Secrecy Act Professional Test. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions with hints and explanations. Get exam ready!

Extortion is the act of coercing someone to surrender funds or property by threats, intimidation, or other pressure. The key idea is that the victim is compelled to give up assets against their will because of fear of harm, exposure, or negative consequences. This makes extortion distinct from scams, which rely on deception rather than force, and from innocuous messages, which are harmless. Trust exploitation involves harming or taking advantage of someone’s trust, but it doesn’t inherently rely on coercive threats to obtain money. Classic examples include demanding protection money under threat of violence or threatening to reveal damaging information unless payment is made. In financial crime terms, extortion is a criminal act aimed at illicitly obtaining assets and is a red flag for investigations, compliance, and monitoring.