What is money laundering and how to spot it

Money laundering is the process by which criminals conceal the origins of illegally obtained funds to make them appear legitimate. It's commonly linked to crimes such as drug trafficking, fraud, organised crime and exploitation.

To obscure the source of 'dirty' money, offenders move it between bank accounts, businesses, real estate and digital platforms. This often involves tactics such as:

▪️Creating fake companies

▪️Inflating the value of goods or services

▪️Handling unusually large amounts of unexplained cash

The ultimate goal is to integrate illicit funds into the financial system without raising suspicion.

How can you spot money laundering?

While most high street businesses are run by honest, hardworking people, money launderers are finding ways to blend in. They’re using small businesses to hide illegal cash, often combining worker exploitation, illicit goods trading, and financial crime under a single business front.

We urge you to stay alert and watch out for:

🕑 Irregular opening hours
🔄 High staff turnover
💳 Refusal to take card payments
💰 Unusually high or low prices

How can you report if you suspect a person or business is involved in money laundering?

You can contact 101, submit a report online, or speak anonymously to Crimestoppers on (0800 555 111). If something doesn’t feel right, report it. Your action could disrupt organised crime and protect your community.