In the placement stage, which activity best describes it?

• A. Donating proceeds to charity.
• B. Hiding cash in safes.
• C. Placing the proceeds of crime in the financial system.
• D. Investing in legitimate businesses.

Answer: (C)

Placement is the first step in money laundering, where illicit proceeds are moved into the financial system so they can be dispersed and made to look legitimate. The activity that fits this stage best is putting the criminal proceeds into banks or other financial channels, because it captures the act of introducing those funds into the system. Donating to charity can be a way to use or legitimize funds, but it doesn’t describe the act of entering money into financial institutions. Hiding cash in safes keeps money out of the financial system rather than placing it inside. Investing in legitimate businesses is more about using money within the economy after it has already been introduced, aligning with later stages of laundering.