Chapter 2.2: Money Laundering / FINTRAC Flashcards
____________: the process used to disguise the source of money earned from criminal activities
Money laundering
Money laundering is a __________________ in Canada under section 462.31(1) of the criminal code
Criminal offence
A money laundering offence is committed when we someone deals in any manner with property or the proceeds of property with the intent to __________ or ___________ it, knowing or believing that some or all of it was obtained or derived as a result of the commission of a designated offence
Conceal or convert it
Examples of money laundering
Drug trafficking
Fraud
Stock manipulation
Tax evasion
One negative impact of money laundering is that it may increase the ___________________________
Corruption of public officials
One negative impact of money laundering is that it threatens the “______________”.
Rule of law
Accountability of persons, institutions, and entities to follow our laws
One negative impact of money laundering is that it erodes the _______________________ who assist money launders
Public trust of professionals
Such as lawyers, accountants, realtors, etc
One negative impact of money laundering is that is that it reduces _______________ for public services (tax evasion)
Tax funds
One negative impact of money laundering is that it causes _________________________ (real property )
Distortions in the market
One reason real estate is attractive to money launders is due to its ________________, meaning large amounts can be laundered in a single transaction
High value
Houses are expenses so conveying $1m dirty money to clean money is substantial
One reason real estate is attractive to money launders is due to ______________, as fairly secure and stable assets cannot be stolen
Security
One reason real estate is attractive to money launders is due to its ______________, it doesn’t require a large degree of sophistication
Simplicity
One reason real estate is attractive to money launders is due to its _________________________, which typically increase in value over the long term
Potential for profit
One reason real estate is attractive to money launders is due to the _____________________________. Such as use of separate legal entities in real estate purchases/ sales, and unregulated lenders in financing
Variety of methods to launder money
One reason real estate is attractive to money launders is due to its ________________, as prices can be manipulated to control the amount of money laundered in a transaction
Subjective value
One reason real estate is attractive to money launders is due to the __________. There are ‘weak spots’ in the industry that criminals can exploit
Oversight
One reason real estate is attractive to money launders is due to the ___________. The identity can be hidden through the use of corporations, trusts, and nominees
Anonymity
One reason real estate is attractive to money launders is due to the ______________________. Criminals can flip properties as part of their money laundering activities without necessarily raising suspicion
Speculative component
There are ____ stages in the money laundering process
3
What are the 3 stages in the money laundering process
Stage 1: placement
Stage 2: layering
Stage 3: integration
Stage 1 - placement
Explain what happens in this step
Process of placing the proceeds of crime into the financial system
Stage 2: layering
Converting the criminal funds into another form in order to conceal the criminal origins of the proceeds
Stage 3: integration
Reintroducing and reintegrating the laundered funds into the legitimate economy to create the perception of legitimacy and having the funds appear to have been legally earned
In simple, putting the money back into circulation to make it look legal
Examples of Stage 1 - placement
- Use of Smurf’s
- using dirty money to repay loans
- using dirty money for gambling (then converting the chips back into cash)
What does it mean to use a Smurf
arranging for multiple people to deposit small amounts of cash at different financial institutions
What are examples of stage 2 - layering
Cash deposits in other bank accounts, split and merge between bank accounts
What are examples of stage 3 - integration
- may renovate a property by paying cash, with the sale of the improved property and the resulting profit appear to be legally earned
- purchase high value items (lambo’s and such)
What stage is the most complicated money laundering stage
Stage 2 - layering
As it involves multiple complex transactions
May involve sophisticated professionals such as lawyers and accountants
There are _______ money laundering methods in real estate
3
Three
Tres
One money laundering method in real estate is the use of __________, ________ and __________
Corporate entities, trusts, and nominees
The use of corporate entities, trusts, and nominees is strategic why?
Because beneficial ownership is not recorded in any land title offices in Canada
Another money laundering method in real estate is the _______________
Use of cash