What Does Laundering Mean?

Money laundering is the process of changing large amounts of money obtained from crimes, such as drug trafficking, into origination from a legitimate source. It is a crime in many jurisdictions with varying definitions. It is a key operation of the underground economy.

What are some examples of money laundering?

Common Money Laundering Use Cases
  • Drug Trafficking. Drug trafficking is a cash-intensive business. ...
  • International and Domestic Terrorism. For ideologically motivated terrorist groups, money is a means to an end. ...
  • Embezzlement. ...
  • Arms Trafficking. ...
  • Other Use Cases.

What is money laundering in simple terms?

Money laundering is the illegal process of making large amounts of money generated by a criminal activity, such as drug trafficking or terrorist funding, appear to have come from a legitimate source. The money from the criminal activity is considered dirty, and the process "launders" it to make it look clean.

Marcus Vance

Marcus Vance

Cybersecurity & Digital Privacy Researcher

Marcus Vance is a cybersecurity auditor and technology writer dedicated to educating the public about online safety, data privacy regulations, enterprise security, and emerging cyber threats.