Criminal Defense Attorney Lists Eight Types of White Collar Crimes
If you’re like most people, the words criminal defense attorney probably doesn’t conjure up images of white collar crime. However, criminal defense attorneys defend clients against a variety of charges, including those related to white collar crimes. In this post, we’ll take a look at eight types of white collar crimes and provide some information about each. Keep in mind that this is by no means an exhaustive list – there are many different types of white collar offenses. But if you’re curious about what kinds of activities might fall into this category, read on!
What Is A White Collar Crime?
It’s important to understand what a white collar crime is. In short, white collar crimes are nonviolent offenses that are typically committed for financial gain. Unlike traditional criminal acts, which are often motivated by things like drugs or violence, white collar crimes are generally carried out with the intent to defraud or otherwise illegally obtain something of value.
Many people want to learn about white collar crimes, and because of this we are often asked what are some common types of white collar crimes. There are many different types, and they can be difficult to prosecute because they often involve complex financial transactions and require a high level of sophistication to pull off. As a result, white collar criminals are often able to avoid detection for long periods of time. We’ve compiled a list of the most common white collar crimes to help you understand what they are and what they mean.
Common White Collar Crimes
1. Corporate Fraud
Corporate fraud is a type of white collar crime that occurs when employees of a corporation engage in fraudulent activities for the benefit of the company. This might include things like arranging accounting books to make it look like the company is doing better than it actually is, or illegally dumping toxic waste to avoid having to pay for proper disposal.
2. Embezzlement
Embezzlement is the criminal act of taking property or money that has been entrusted to you and unlawfully using it for your own benefit. This can happen in a variety of ways, including company employees stealing money from their employer, or bank employees misusing customer funds.
3. Extortion
Extortion is a type of white collar crime in which someone unlawfully obtains money or property from another person by means of threats or force, such as through blackmail or coercion.
4. Bankruptcy Fraud
Bankruptcy fraud occurs when someone intentionally misleads the court in a bankruptcy proceeding by, for example, hiding assets in order to protect them from being seized by the court.
5. Tax Fraud
Tax fraud is a type of white collar crime that occurs when someone intentionally avoids paying their taxes by hiding income, underreporting expenses or otherwise misrepresenting their financial situation to the IRS.
6. Insider Trading
Insider trading is the illegal practice of buying or selling securities based on information that is not publicly available. This might happen if an employee of a company learns that the company is about to be bought out and purchases shares before the news is made public.
7. Credit Card Fraud
Credit card fraud is a type of white collar crime that occurs when someone uses a stolen or counterfeit credit card to make unauthorized purchases. This might happen, for instance, if someone finds a lost credit card and uses it to buy items online.
8. Ponzi Schemes
A Ponzi scheme is a type of white collar crime in which someone promises high returns for little or no risk. Typically, Ponzi schemes put efforts into attracting fresh, new investors in order to pay old investors. A perfect example of this is promising guaranteed returns on an investment and using the money from new investors to pay the original investors.
There are many different types of white collar crimes. If you have been accused of any of these offenses, or if you believe you are the victim of one of these offenses, it’s important to seek out experienced legal representation as soon as possible. A criminal defense attorney can help you understand the charges and develop a strong defense strategy. At Avera & Smith, our expert white collar crime defense attorneys and criminal defense attorneys are here for you.