embezzlement
Stealing entrusted funds
Embezzlement is the theft of money or property by someone entrusted with it—an employee skimming from the register, an accountant diverting company funds, a trustee misappropriating assets.
The crime requires a breach of trust: the embezzler had legitimate access before stealing.
She was convicted of embezzling three million dollars from the nonprofit.
Wrongful taking of entrusted assets
- defalcationMisappropriation of entrusted funds
- peculationTheft of entrusted assets
- larcenyUnlawful taking of goods
- racketeeringConducting illegal business schemes
felony · indictment · prosecution · conviction · sentencing · restitution · extradition · white-collar
Deliberate alteration of truth
- forgeryCreating fraudulent imitations
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- doctoringAltering deceptively
- concealmentAct of hiding something
cover-up · offshore · layering · paper-trail · discrepancies · irregularities
Minor theft of goods
- skimmingPassing lightly over
- siphoningDrawing liquid through tube
- diversionRedirection of attention
- pocketingTaking and keeping covertly
stealing · misuse · appropriation · funds · assets · accounts · treasury · coffers
Corrupt payment for influence
- graftIllicit political gain
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- cronyismFavoring friends in appointments
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
patronage · collusion · malfeasance · misconduct · sleaze · payola · profiteering · exploitation
Breaking of rules
- disloyaltyBreach of allegiance
- treacheryDeliberate violation of trust
- insiderOne with confidential access
- treasurerFinancial steward of organization
accountant · bookkeeper · CFO · executive · trustee · guardian · custodian · steward
Formal accounts examination
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
- investigationFormal examination of facts
- discrepancyDifference between expected and actual
- shortfallFailure to reach quota
reconciliation · compliance · oversight · regulators · SEC · tip-off
misappropriation
Wrongful taking of entrusted assets
- defalcationMisappropriation of entrusted funds
- peculationTheft of entrusted assets
- larcenyUnlawful taking of goods
racketeering · felony · indictment · prosecution · conviction · sentencing · restitution · extradition · white-collar · federal
falsification
Deliberate alteration of truth
- forgeryCreating fraudulent imitations
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- doctoringAltering deceptively
concealment · cover-up · offshore · layering · paper-trail · discrepancies · irregularities
pilferage
Minor theft of goods
pocketing · stealing · misuse · appropriation · funds · assets · accounts · treasury · coffers · payroll
bribery
Corrupt payment for influence
nepotism · patronage · collusion · malfeasance · misconduct · sleaze · payola · profiteering · exploitation · self-dealing
violation
Breaking of rules
- disloyaltyBreach of allegiance
- treacheryDeliberate violation of trust
- insiderOne with confidential access
treasurer · accountant · bookkeeper · CFO · executive · trustee · guardian · custodian · steward
audit
Formal accounts examination
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
- investigationFormal examination of facts
- discrepancyDifference between expected and actual
shortfall · reconciliation · compliance · oversight · regulators · SEC · tip-off
- corporate crimescorporate fraud, securities fraud, insider trading, price fixing, tax fraud
- dirty moneydirty money, ill-gotten gains, illicit funds, illicit gains, proceeds of crime
- financial crimesbank fraud, wire fraud, securities fraud, tax fraud, insurance fraud
- financial fraudsecurities fraud, bank fraud, accounting fraud, defalcation, peculation
- scandalsscandal, controversy, coverup, cover-up, disgrace
- white-collar crimewhite-collar crime, corporate crime, financial crimes, securities fraud, insider trading
embezzlementhonesty
Truthfulness, sincerity
integrity · fiduciary duty · trustworthiness · probity · stewardship
embezzlementrestitution
Restoring what was lost
reimbursement · repayment · compensation · return · pay
- corporate embezzlementMisappropriating company funds