Streamsalausmenetelmät

Streamsalausmenetelmät refers to techniques used to mask or obscure the origin of a financial transaction, making it difficult to trace the flow of funds. The primary goal is to conceal the illicit nature of the money, often by integrating it with legitimate funds. This process can involve multiple stages and layers of obfuscation.

One common method is smurfing, where large sums of money are broken down into smaller amounts and deposited into various accounts or sent through multiple individuals to avoid triggering reporting thresholds. Another technique is structuring, which is similar to smurfing but specifically focuses on avoiding detection by financial institutions that are legally required to report large transactions.

Layering involves conducting a series of complex financial transactions to distance the funds from their illegal source. This can include buying and selling assets, transferring money between different accounts, and using shell corporations or offshore entities. The complexity of these transactions makes it challenging for investigators to follow the money trail.

Commingling is another approach where illicit funds are mixed with legitimate business revenue. This makes it harder to distinguish between lawful and unlawful money. For example, a business involved in illegal activities might deposit its proceeds into the same account as its legitimate earnings, making the overall revenue appear as if it all comes from the legitimate business.

The ultimate aim of streamsalausmenetelmät is to create a situation where the origin of the funds is so obscured that it appears legitimate, allowing criminals to use or invest the money without attracting suspicion. Law enforcement agencies and financial institutions continuously develop methods to counter these techniques.