{"id":358073,"date":"2016-04-04T10:46:22","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:46:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/hirealawyer\/choosing-the-right-lawyer\/white-collar-crime.html"},"modified":"2023-08-28T12:25:55","modified_gmt":"2023-08-28T17:25:55","slug":"white-collar-crime","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/hirealawyer\/choosing-the-right-lawyer\/white-collar-crime.html","title":{"rendered":"What Is White-Collar Crime?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What Is White-Collar Crime?<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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“White-collar crime” is a wide range of criminal activity involving finance, technology, and information. This term refers to the traditional white collared shirts of office professionals and executives. These crimes don’t usually involve physical violence, but their effects can still be severe. Examples of white-collar crime include fraud, money laundering, and identity theft.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Not all crime is violent, street-level crime. Some of the most expensive crimes never physically harm anyone. Some of the biggest criminal cases in history did not involve a drop of blood or use a single bullet.<\/p>\n

These crimes, sometimes called “white-collar crime<\/a>” or “corporate crime,” are underreported and under-investigated, although they are far more costly to the public. The\u00a0FBI has estimated<\/a>\u00a0that while street crime costs America about $15 billion annually in lost income and revenue, white-collar crime costs more than $1 trillion in money transfers, fraud, and waste.<\/p>\n

White-collar crime is poorly enforced because of the lack of public knowledge. “White-collar” crime remains the domain of wealthy perpetrators in corporate offices, or so the public and law enforcement think. But anyone with a computer and Wi-Fi access can commit some type of white-collar crime. And anyone accused of doing so should seek defense from a criminal law attorney<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Types of White-Collar Crime<\/h2>\n

White-collar crime is generally nonviolent criminal activity. Most crimes focus on financial gain or profit. Most need some financial or computer technology expertise, although they don’t need years of experience in those fields. They do require audacity and access to sensitive information.<\/p>\n

Typical white-collar offenses include:<\/p>\n