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Payments Fraud / ACH Originationadvanced~75 min

ACH Payments-Rail Fraud — The Originator Your Examiner Calls First

An originating depository financial institution discovers a batch of fraudulent ACH credits already settled to mule accounts at a downstream bank. Walk the NACHA Rule 2.5 reversal sequence, the FFIEC IR chain, and the FinCEN SAR clock under live financial pressure.

Learning objectives

  • Execute the NACHA Operating Rules §2.5 reversal window inside the 5-banking-day clock.
  • Decide on customer-facing notification under conflicting Reg E and BSA confidentiality constraints.
  • Coordinate the FinCEN SAR filing decision against the 30-day initial deadline.
  • Produce a documented IR exercise artifact mapped to FFIEC CAT and NYDFS §500.17.

Scenario brief

## Scenario context

Second financial-institutions anchor scenario. While the wire-fraud scenario
covers the inbound BEC/wire pattern, this scenario sits on the origination
side of the ACH rails — the harder and rarer exercise. Built for community
banks, credit unions, and FinTechs that act as ODFIs (originating depository
financial institutions) and need documented evidence of a tested
payments-fraud response for FFIEC, NCUA, NYDFS, and external auditor review.

## Sample inject sequence

1. **T+00:00** — Operations spots an anomalous batch totaling $1.4M across 47
   credits to first-time receivers at the same downstream RDFI.
2. **T+00:35** — RDFI calls back: 31 of 47 receivers are flagged
   pass-through accounts; funds already swept.
3. **T+01:10** — Counsel asks whether the SAR clock starts at detection or
   at confirmation. BSA officer wants both answers in writing.
4. **T+02:00** — Customer (the legitimate originator) demands a public
   statement; PR is on the line.

> Full inject set unlocks in the live product. The marketing demo runs the
> first three injects only.

Bring this scenario to your next exercise.