Predicate offenses are crimes that generate proceeds which may subsequently be laundered. FATF standards and national AML laws define a wide range of serious crimes as predicate offenses.
Bribery and corruption are among the most common predicate offenses, often involving large illicit payments that require laundering to disguise their origin. Fraud, including financial, consumer, and corporate fraud, is another primary source of illicit proceeds and is universally recognized as a predicate offense.
Organized crime and racketeering encompass coordinated criminal activities designed to generate ongoing illegal income, making them central predicate offenses under AML frameworks.
While arson may be considered a serious crime in some jurisdictions, and assault is generally not associated with financial gain, AML regimes focus primarily on crimes that generate substantial proceeds. Therefore, bribery, fraud, and organized crime are the most consistently recognized predicate offenses across jurisdictions.
