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White collar crime: What is it, exactly?

On Behalf of | Aug 2, 2017 | Blog |

You’ve probably heard the term a time or two before, but are you really clear on how Indiana law defines white-collar crime? The phrases white-collar and blue-collar have been around for ages, the latter typically referring to the laborers and middle-class people, and the former signifying upper-class lifestyles and non-labor employment positions. So, what does that have to do with crime? There are many types of illegal activities that fall under this particular category.

Knowing what they are and understanding the potential consequences that may occur if a court ever convicts you of illegal activities may help you avoid problems altogether, or at least know where to turn for help if you get into trouble with the law.

Crimes commonly categorized as white collar

If you’re unsure whether a court would consider a particular act a white-collar crime, the following list may help clarify the issue:

  • If the act is deceitful and possible personal financial gain is the motivation, it may be listed as white-collar crime.
  • White-collar crimes are typically non-violent in nature. However, that does not necessarily mean that the crime caused no harm, only that physical violence is usually absent.
  • Fraud is often a main component of white-collar crime. There are many types of fraud, and individual circumstances would likely bear significant impact on an ultimate outcome in court.
  • Other white-collar crimes sometimes involve tax evasion or other tax schemes, as well as embezzlement, money laundering and other financial crimes.
  • Ponzi schemes are white-collar crimes where people take other people’s money by drawing them into false business opportunities. Ponzi scheme operators pay initial investors with money obtained from later investors for investments on business establishments that don’t actually exist.

You may find yourself in a situation where a clerical error or other simple mishap throws you into a downward spiral and creates a complicated situation that results authorities charging you with a white-collar crime. Even though facing charges does not constitute guilt, and you may wind up being able to rectify the situation and avoiding conviction, the process will likely be stressful and extremely challenging. This is why many Indiana residents choose to seek outside support and aggressive legal representation when fighting white-collar crime charges in court.

White-collar crime charges can definitely bring your business dreams to a screeching halt. Such situations may place your personal and professional reputation at great risk as well. By acting proactively to resolve a problem as soon as it arises, you may be able to mitigate your circumstances and get life back on track without long-term negative repercussions.

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