protection money
Gangster's regular tribute
Protection money is payment extorted by criminals or corrupt officials in exchange for not harming you, your business, or your property.
The protection being purchased is protection from the extortionists themselves: The shop owner paid protection money to the local gang.
The practice is associated with organized crime and racketeering.
- shakedownForceful extraction of payment
- pay upSettle a debt
- extortionObtaining through threats
- bossWorkplace superior
- organized crimeStructured illegal enterprise
crime family · crime syndicate · fear · racketeering · street tax · pay or else · blackmail · fear tactics · omertà · mafia · under the table · tribute · bribe · black hand · coercion · kickback · milking · loan sharking
- dirty moneyill-gotten gains, illicit funds, illicit gains, proceeds of crime, filthy lucre
- payoffsbribe, kickback, payoff, payola, baksheesh
- underworld slangsnitch, rat out, hitman, capo, consigliere
- money demandstax, fee, fees, toll, tolls
- extortionextort, shakedown, shake down, blackmail letter, ransom
- Yakuzayakuza, full body tattoo, sworn brotherhood, syndicate, syndicate boss
protection moneylicense fee
Cost for official authorization
insurance premium · membership fee · service fee · service charge · dues
money, protection, protected, protective, protector, protecting, unprotected, moneyed, monetary