Counterfeiting: an International Issue

How many times have you seen someone sporting a Rolex watch, or wearing Oakley sunglasses and wondered to yourself, are those real? Counterfeiting is a serious issue in this nation and around the world: however, it can be easily defined, its different variations identified, methods understood, and it can be dealt with. As white collar crime has evolved, so have the various types that have been undertaken. Ranging anywhere from blackmail to bribery, or computer fraud to forgery, white collar crime is a fast growing and serious issue. "Perhaps most troubling is the widespread threat counterfeiting poses to public health and safety. Few Americans truly appreciate the significance, scope or consequences for this crime." Counterfeiting is only one major type of white collar crime. This crime occurs when someone copies or imitates an item without having been authorized to do so and passes the copy off for the genuine or original item. Judging by this definition, many people 's lives are touched by this crime. Counterfeiting is most often associated with money however it can also be associated with other activities. Counterfeiting ranges from the dubbing of currency, to the passing off of fake clothing for designer materials, and even includes the pirating of music and movies. Although pirating movies and music is sometimes considered its own category, by definition, if they are being passed off as the real product, it is counterfeiting. The counterfeiting of money is one of the oldest white collar crimes. At some periods in early history, it was considered so serious that it was punishable by death. During the American Revolution, counterfeiting was so rampant, especially by the British, the colonial currency was deemed nearly worthless. While during the Civil War, almost a half of all the currency in circulation was counterfeit. At the time, almost 1,600 state banks printed their own bills; and each bank carried a different design, making it difficult to

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