In dealing with an individual customer's accounts, what is an additional step an account representative can take to verify the customer's identity?

• A. Check the customer's social media profiles.
• B. Confirm the information provided with the customer's employer.
• C. Request a reference from the customer's former employer.
• D. Rely solely on the customer's own statements.

Answer: (B)

In AML, confirming identity needs independent corroboration beyond what the customer says. Verifying the information with the customer’s employer provides an external check that the details supplied (such as name, employment status, income, or address) are accurate. This reduces the risk of someone presenting false information or using someone else’s identity and helps ensure the account is opened or maintained for a legitimate, identifiable customer.

Other approaches like checking social media profiles are unreliable and can raise privacy concerns; a reference from a former employer is more about past work history than current identity verification; and relying solely on the customer's statements offers no independent confirmation, leaving room for misrepresentation. Hence, obtaining employer confirmation is the strongest extra verification step.