Many terms have come to be associated with white-collar crime. Some of these include “crimes of the powerful,” “economic crime,” “upper world crime” and “abuse of power.”
In a digital age where information flows all around us, white-collar crime is often more prevalent. Business owners, managers, government workers, financial investors and other professionals are often the ones involved.
What are some examples of white-collar crime?
According to Florida Statutes Section 775.0844(3), white-collar crimes are nonviolent and are usually done for financial gain. The following are some examples of common white-collar crimes:
- Embezzlement: Taking monies or assets from an employer
- Identity theft: Stealing the identity of a person to commit financial crimes
- Insurance fraud: Purposely defrauding insurance companies for personal gain
- Credit card fraud: Fraudulently obtaining or using credit cards
- Investment schemes: Promoting fraudulent investment schemes such as “pyramid schemes”
- Forgery: The act of forging a signature, copy of a document, banknote or other financial instruments
- Extortion: The practice of obtaining money through force or threats
- Accounting fraud: Manufacturing fraudulent accounting, also known as “cooking the books”
- Health care fraud: The act of deliberately and dishonestly obtaining healthcare benefits for someone that is not qualified or entitled
The choices available to white-collar criminals to commit crimes are only limited by their imagination. The above is only the tip of the iceberg. Some people rob with a gun, and other’s weapon of choice is a computer or pen.
Many times, creative solutions can be found to deal with white-collar crimes that do not involve litigation and criminal charges. If one finds themselves on either side of a white-collar crime, as the perpetrator or an injured party, it is beneficial to seek legal counsel that is experienced in white-collar crime.