Anti-money laundering (AML) refers to a set of laws, regulations, and procedures designed to stop the practice of generating income through illegal activities.AML laws are implemented by financial institutions and government agencies in an effort to prevent criminals from using the financial system to launder money.The methods used to exchange money vary, but they all have the same goal: to make it difficult to trace the money back to its criminal origins. Common money laundering methods include structuring transactions to avoid reporting requirements, using shell companies or trusts to hide ownership, and using offshore bank accounts to move money around anonymously. By making it harder for criminals to launder money, AML laws help to make the world a safer place.