white-collar crime

Fraud by professionals

White-collar crime refers to financially motivated, nonviolent offenses committed by business professionals or government officials in positions of trust.

The term evokes the dress shirts of office workers, distinguishing these crimes from street crime.

Examples include fraud, embezzlement, insider trading, money laundering, and tax evasion: The executive was convicted of white-collar crimes totaling millions in losses.

corporate

embezzlement

Fraudulent taking of entrusted assets

insider tradingIllegal securities transactions using nonpublic information
securities fraudIllegal financial market deception
accounting fraudIntentional financial record deception

money laundering · tax evasion · bribery · kickbacks · antitrust violations · price fixing · market manipulation · corporate espionage · cooking the books · self-dealing

legal

prosecution

Pursuing legal charges

indictmentFormal charge from jury
plea dealNegotiated criminal case resolution
restitutionRestoring what was lost

forfeiture · sentencing · FBI investigation · grand jury · subpoena · forensic accounting · consent decree · whistleblower · informant · cooperating witness

fraud-types

insurance fraud

Deceptive claims for payouts

mortgage fraudDeceiving lenders about loans
bank fraudDeception targeting financial institutions
wire fraudCrime via electronic communication

mail fraud · bankruptcy fraud · credit card fraud · real estate fraud · customs fraud · welfare fraud · investment fraud · telemarketing fraud · accounting fraud

schemes

Ponzi scheme

Fraudulent returns from newcomers

pyramid schemeFraud through endless recruitment
pump and dumpFraudulent stock inflation scheme
boiler roomHeating system enclosure

churning · front running · layering · spoofing · phantom debt · payroll fraud · bid rigging

perpetrators

fraudster

Criminal deceiver for gain

embezzlerOne misappropriating entrusted funds
con artistProfessional fraud perpetrator
swindlerPerson who deceives for money

grifter · scammer · rogue trader · inside man · mastermind · co-conspirator

Categories

crimesarson, burglary, robbery, kidnapping, vandalism
criminal lawfelony, misdemeanor, murder, robbery, theft
business fictioncorporate drama, boardroom drama, corporate intrigue, financial scandals, business rivalry
crime dataarrest rate, incarceration rate, arrest records, auto theft, cybercrime
financial crimesbank fraud, wire fraud, securities fraud, tax fraud, insurance fraud
financial fraudsecurities fraud, bank fraud, accounting fraud, defalcation, embezzler

Opposites

type of criminal activity

white-collar crimestreet crime

Public-area criminal activity

violent crime · property crime · armed robbery · mugging · assault

legality of professional conduct

white-collar crimeethical business practices

Morally sound commercial conduct

corporate compliance · fair dealing · business integrity · fiduciary duty · business ethics

Family

crime, criminal, collar, crimes, criminals, collared, blue-collar, white-collar, incriminate

Familiarity: Top 100,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated PG