So, you’ve been accused of a white collar crime after doing your job. Do you know what one is? Lying, cheating or stealing are the main categories of crimes within a white collar crime charge, and all essentially describe fraudulent activity. Fraud can take place at the business or governmental level, and it can be charged at the state or federal level, depending on your circumstances.
While some may think that white collar crimes don’t have any real victims, that isn’t true, and the number of people who suffer due to them is significant. A scam can wipe out a savings account or destroy computer information. While the seriousness can’t be overlooked, being accused of a crime like this is a major problem. The crime can be charged at the federal level, and that means a federal prison sentence could be given.
There are several kinds of common fraudulent activities that the Federal Bureau of Investigation looks for. These include financial institution fraud, like at banks or postal offices, insurance fraud, mortgage fraud, health care fraud including Medicaid and Medicare, and corporate fraud. Additionally, identity theft and Internet fraud are also monitored by the federal government as well as local and state policing bodies.
Scams are also considered white collar crimes, and these include work-at-home scams, adoption scams, illegal drug sales/pharmacies and staged auto accidents. These all can lead to heavy fines and prison sentences, which is why if you’re accused of them, you need to defend yourself from the start. With the right help, you may be able to have your case dropped or defend yourself in a way that leads to a lesser penalty.
Source: FBI, “Lying, cheating, and stealing.” Dec. 22, 2014
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