Which of the following best describes "money laundering"?

The concept of money laundering is best described as concealing the origins of illegally obtained money. Money laundering involves a process where individuals or organizations take funds that have been acquired through criminal activities, such as drug trafficking, fraud, or corruption, and then manipulate the financial system to make those funds appear legitimate.

This typically occurs through a series of transactions that obscure the illegal source, making it difficult for authorities to trace back to the original crime. The ultimate goal of money laundering is to integrate the illicit money into the economy in such a way that it can be used without raising suspicion.

The other options do not accurately capture the essence of money laundering. Transforming legal money into illegal money implies a fundamentally different process, centered around legitimizing illegal transactions instead. Increasing the value of legal financial assets does not relate to the concealment of illicit proceeds, and consolidating financial information for auditing is more about organization and compliance rather than the act of laundering itself. Therefore, the correct answer clearly identifies the primary function of money laundering as it pertains to financial crime.