CAMS - Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist 2026

Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist 2026Money laundering involves taking criminal proceeds and disguising their illegal sources in order to use the funds to perform legal or illegal activities. Simply put, money laundering is the process of making dirty money look clean.When a criminal activity generates substantial profits, the individual or group involved must find a way to use the funds without drawing attention to the underlying activity or persons involved in generating such profits. Criminals achieve this goal by disguising the source of funds, changing the form of the currency, or moving the money to a place where it is less likely to attract attention. Criminal activities that lead to money laundering (i.e., predicate crimes) can include illegal arms sales, narcotics trafficking, contraband smuggling, and other activities related to organized crime, embezzlement, insider trading, bribery, and computer fraud schemes.The United Nations 2000 Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, also known as the Palermo Convention, defines money laundering as:• The conversion or transfer of property, knowing it is derived from a criminal offense, for the purpose of concealing or disguising its illicit origin or of assisting any person who is involved in the commission of the crime to evade the legal consequences of his or her actions• The concealment or disguise of the true nature, source, location, disposition, movement, or rights with respect to or ownership of property, knowing that it is derived from a criminal offense• The acquisition, possession, or use of property, knowing at the time of its receipt that it was derived from a criminal offense or from participation in a crimeKey takeaways• Money laundering promotes crime and corruption and slows economic growth.• Money laundering exploits institutional loopholes and undermines the legitimate financial system and markets.• Money laund