laundering
Washing dirty garments
Laundering is the process of washing clothes or linens, but the word appears far more often in its extended sense: making illegally obtained money appear legitimate by passing it through banks, businesses, or other financial channels.
Money laundering is the standard phrase.
The metaphor treats dirty money like dirty clothes—something that needs cleaning before it can be used openly.
Away from land
- smurfingEvasive transaction splitting
- structuringImposing systematic order
- layeringForming successive strata
- placementPutting somewhere specific
integration · nominee · concealment · proceeds · cleaning · washing · disguising · funneling
Chemical cleaning agent
- washerSpacer ring for fasteners
- dryerAppliance removing moisture
- rinseWash without scrubbing
- bleachChemical stain and germ killer
stains · clothesline · tumble-dry · handwash · soak · agitate · suds · delicates
Conducting illegal business schemes
- traffickingIllegal transport for profit
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- briberyCorrupt payment for influence
- extortionObtaining through threats
embezzlement · fraud · counterfeiting · smuggling · cartels · kickbacks · black-market · prosecution
Illicit finance prevention framework
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
- reportingConveying documented information
- auditFormal accounts examination
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
sanctions · enforcement · penalties · investigation · disclosure · watchlist
offshore
Away from land
- smurfingEvasive transaction splitting
- structuringImposing systematic order
- layeringForming successive strata
placement · integration · nominee · concealment · proceeds · cleaning · washing · disguising · funneling · legitimizing
detergent
Chemical cleaning agent
bleach · stains · clothesline · tumble-dry · handwash · soak · agitate · suds · delicates · linens
racketeering
Conducting illegal business schemes
- traffickingIllegal transport for profit
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- briberyCorrupt payment for influence
extortion · embezzlement · fraud · counterfeiting · smuggling · cartels · kickbacks · black-market · prosecution · seizure
AML
Illicit finance prevention framework
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
- reportingConveying documented information
- auditFormal accounts examination
regulation · sanctions · enforcement · penalties · investigation · disclosure · watchlist
- cleaningcleaning, clean, housekeeping, clean up, daily cleaning
- cleanlinessclean, cleanliness, clean up, dirty, neatness
- hygienehygiene, handwashing, toothbrush, hand washing, sanitizer
- laundrywashing machine, wash, dryer, clothes dryer, fold
- home activitiescleaning, cooking, sleeping, bathing, eating
- homemaking skillshomemaking, meal planning, organization, decorating, housekeeping
launderingauditing
Examining records for accuracy
tax compliance · financial transparency · reporting · disclosing · declaring
launderingexposing
Making something known
revealing · uncovering · disclosing · unmasking · truth-telling
- money launderingDisguising criminal proceeds' origins
- crypto launderingDisguising illicit funds via blockchain