Which action is a direct anti-money laundering check you would perform when you first receive instructions to act in the sale?

• A. Open a file for the sale
• B. Obtain evidence of identity
• C. Write to the estate agent
• D. Check where keys are held

Answer: (B)

The starting point is that you must establish who you are dealing with from the very first instruction to act in a sale. This is a direct anti-money laundering safeguard: you verify the client’s identity before taking further steps. Obtaining evidence of identity (such as a passport or national ID together with proof of address) is the concrete action that demonstrates who the client is and helps you assess risk and comply with money laundering regulations.

Other actions listed are administrative or communications steps and do not directly satisfy AML verification requirements. For example, opening a file or writing to the estate agent are part of setting up the matter, and checking where keys are held is a procedural detail; neither confirms the client's identity or flags AML risk. Fulfilling identity checks at the outset is essential to enable proper due diligence, including later optional checks on source of funds if needed.