Money Laundering Typologies

Posted on March 20, 2008 by Fred Abrams

A licensed private investigator from Arizona advised that he had a good track record in finding  hidden assets and / or locating bank accounts.  He however, contacted me wanting to know the best way to learn more about money laundering (18 U.S.C. §§1956 & 1957) and structuring / smurfing (31 U.S.C. § 5324).  One good way to learn about money laundering and other white-collar crimes, is to read money laundering typologies.  


As explained at the end of my post Terrorist Financing, Money Laundering & Financial Intelligence Units, money laundering typologies are sometimes used by law enforcement and regulators to develop countermeasures against emerging criminal trends.  Although"100 Cases from the Egmont Group" arises from data collected by the Egmont Group from the 1990's, it is still relevant today.  In "100 Cases from the Egmont Group" there are for example, descriptions of the following laundering methods:

  • Concealment within existing business structures
  • Misuse of legitimate businesses
  • Use of false identities, documents or straw men
  • Exploiting international jurisdictional issues
  • Use of anonymous asset types
The Financial Action Task Force also publishes money laundering typologies.  Its February 29, 2008 Terrorist Financing Typologies Report, (Copyright © FATF/OECD. All rights reserved), explains some of the methods terrorists use to raise and then transfer illicit funds. In addition to the foregoing, the Egmont Group and the Financial Action Task Force publish many money laundering typologies at their websites.


Copyright 2008 Fred L. Abrams

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