Which term describes concealing illegally obtained money to make it appear legal?

• A. Money laundering
• B. Affordance of trust and legitimacy
• C. Obtaining property by false pretenses
• D. Shoplifting

Answer: (A)

Money laundering is the process of concealing illegally obtained money to make it appear legal. The idea is to hide the true source of funds so they can circulate without arousing suspicion. In practice, this often happens in three stages: placement, where illicit cash enters the financial system; layering, with a series of transactions designed to obscure where the money came from; and integration, where the funds are reintegrated into the economy as seemingly legitimate income or assets. By moving money through accounts, shell companies, or cross-border transfers, criminals create a façade of legitimacy.

The other options describe different crimes or concepts that don’t fit this concealment of proceeds. Obtaining property by false pretenses involves deceiving someone to obtain property, not disguising the origin of money. Shoplifting is theft of goods from a store. The phrase about trust and legitimacy isn’t a standard legal term for hiding money. Thus, the term that best matches the description is money laundering.