White-collar crime facts for kids

White-collar crime means crimes done by people who work in offices. These people often wear shirts with white collars. This used to show they had a high-status job. People who work with their hands are sometimes called "blue-collar" workers.

Most white-collar crimes are done by people in banking, business, or government. These crimes can include bribery, embezzlement, fraud, or money laundering. They are usually done as part of their regular work. Edwin Sutherland first used the term "white-collar crime" in 1939.

What is White-Collar Crime?

White-collar crime is a type of crime that usually does not involve violence. Instead, it involves cheating or dishonesty to gain money or power. These crimes are often committed by people in positions of trust. They might use their job to do something illegal.

Who Commits These Crimes?

People who commit white-collar crimes often work in important jobs. They might be managers, bankers, or government officials. They use their knowledge of the system to break the law. This can be hard to spot at first.

Types of White-Collar Crime

There are many kinds of white-collar crimes. Here are a few common ones:

• Bribery: This is when someone offers money or gifts to a person in power. They do this to get something unfair in return. For example, paying a politician to pass a certain law.
• Embezzlement: This happens when someone steals money or property that they were trusted to manage. Imagine a bank teller taking money from customer accounts.
• Fraud: This means tricking someone to get money or property. An example is pretending to be a charity to collect donations for yourself.
• Money Laundering: This is making illegally gained money look like it came from a legal source. Criminals do this to hide where their money really came from.

The History of the Term

The idea of "white-collar crime" was first talked about by a man named Edwin Sutherland. He was a famous sociologist. In 1939, he explained that crimes are not just committed by poor people. He showed that rich and powerful people also commit serious crimes.

What About "Fur-Collar Crime"?

There is also a related term called "fur-collar crime." This term describes crimes committed by high-ranking officials and nobles. It refers to people with high status in Western Europe during the 15th century.

Noble warriors, especially young bachelor knights, sometimes committed these crimes. They often did it when they were bored or needed money. They would rob, plunder, and pillage others. Crimes committed against helpless peasants by nobles often went unpunished back then.

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