Money Laundering

Organised crime groups rely on money laundering to conceal or disguise the proceeds of their crimes.

Money laundering is an extremely diverse activity carried out in Australia by most, if not all, organised crime groups. It is a serious crime, however many people do not understand how it negatively affects the Australian economy and community.

This animation aims to outline how money laundering poses not only a challenge for law enforcement, but also a risk for legitimate Australian business.

By providing government, industry and the public with more information about the nature of organised crime we will be better equipped to identify vulnerabilities in a variety of sectors, and to respond to this threat.

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Transcript of voice over in animation

Money laundering is the way criminals conceal or disguise the proceeds of their crimes.                

More and more organised crime groups are becoming involved in money laundering to either disguise their illicit gains or to fund other criminal activities.

Money launderers may use a variety of schemes or methods.

They have shown themselves to be imaginative, creating new schemes to get around the counter-measures designed to stop them.

Criminals may use gambling as a means to facilitate money laundering

Or buy and re-sell real estate or luxury items such as cars or jewellery.

Criminals may also use businesses that send money overseas and operate in a similar way to conventional banking systems.

Once the money has lost its illicit status, it can then be used by criminals in seemingly legitimate ways—or  to fund further criminal activity.  

Contemporary estimates suggest that the level of money laundering in and through Australia is at least 10 billion dollars a year.

For more information, go to www.crimecommission.gov.au