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White Collar Crimes
White collar crimes are usually committed by educated and sophisticated offenders who, instead of using weapons, employ computers, financial statements and other business paraphernalia to consummate the crime. Although these crimes are usually associated with offenders such as businesspeople, bankers, attorneys, doctors and other professionals who have underlying financial motives, criminals may also belong to other positions in society. In fact, a number of computer- and internet-related white collar crimes have been committed by people of minor age.
Types of White Collar Crimes
White collar crimes may include antitrust, bribery, frauds such as computer and internet, credit card, healthcare, insurance, securities and telemarketing, environmental law violations, identity theft, insider trading, money laundering and tax evasion. Since white collar crimes are often perpetrated quietly in the privacy of offices rather than out in the public, it is usually difficult to detect and prove them in court. By offering a portion of the money that criminals will pay and/or protection, the government has encouraged whistle blowers (usually people who are under the employ of alleged perpetrators) to entice them to come forward and report the misdeeds of their organizations.
Costs of the Crimes
Every year, Americans are made to shoulder the burden of financial losses resulting from white collar crimes. Experts believe such losses will increase dramatically, with the widespread use of computers and the advent of the Internet. White collar crimes cause billions of dollars in financial losses to society at large. Their harms are not only limited to the economic realm. The human toll arising from environmental law violations, such as dumping of toxic wastes, is incalculable, in terms of impact on health, physical well-being, and even on life itself.
If you think that you are a victim of, or you are unfairly prosecuted for committing a white collar crime, you may want to seek legal advice of a qualified white collar crime attorney.