I am now convinced it's some kind of money laundering scheme to move money from big customer companies into the pockets of the top brass/owners of the consultin

I am now convinced it's some kind of money laundering scheme to move money from big customer companies into the pockets of the top brass/owners of the consulting companies while making it look like value was created. Money the managers of the customer company can not siphon out by themselves without having a project to pay for.