Research Paper On White Collar Crime

Although no crime is victimless, white collar crime stands alone in its ability to devastate victims through non-violent means. White collar crime is the use of schemes or frauds to manipulate or gain money, usually committed by a professional at work. Be it an investor committing fraud or a restaurateur embezzling from their business, white collar crime harms society. White collar crime costs the USA over $300 billion every year. (Firm, Lisa Wells Law) Its victims may be investors, business owners, or everyday employees. The FBI investigates white collar crime and punishes those who commit such acts. Even though 46.5% of Americans have been victims of white collar crime, the economic status of its perpetrators often allows the bad guys to
get away. (Crime, Prisons, and Jails) White collar crime illustrates the conflicts between economic classes and the power unnaturally given to the select few elites who control America’s capitol. White collar crimes are committed by professionals who take advantage of their access to money. Bribery, blackmail, counterfeiting, embezzlement, and pyramid schemes are all examples of white collar crime. (National Check Fraud Center) Bernie Madoff, an investor, committed a Ponzi scheme that devastated its victims. He was forced to forfeit over $170 billion of criminal gains after his trial. Judge Denny Chin, who spoke to the families of Madoff’s victims, said his scheme was "not merely a bloodless crime that takes place on paper, but one that takes a staggering human toll” (U.S. Attorney’s Office) The term “Ponzi scheme” describes when an investor swindles multiple people, promising a high pay out of a certain stock. However, they never invest their client’s money. They take money from their next client and pay their first, creating a loop of deception that only ends when the flow of clients ceases. Madoff continued his scheme for many years, racking up many victims. White collar crimes cause irreparable harm to those unfortunate enough to get caught in their trap. In many cases, white collar crime goes unreported by its humiliated victims.
There is shame in gullibility, poverty, and victimhood. Money is power in America. Often times Americans blame the victims of crimes, believing crimes can be easily avoided if one has the right personality and intelligence. Americans, especially those of middle or upper class, often believe crime cannot occur in their lives. They rarely hear of white collar crime and believe it is only committed between millionaires. Just like violent crimes, people only become truly aware of white collar crimes when they become victims. For example, Bernie Madoff preyed not only on rich members of country clubs, but also on middle class people looking for a way to get rich
quick.
A conflict theorist would attribute white collar crime to the greedy nature of the upper class.
In their positions of power, business men express their hunger for class security by increasing their wealth through theft. In a capitalist society, money is literally life. Without money, one cannot afford food, healthcare, or shelter and can easily end up dying in the streets. American culture glorifies excessive wealth. Because of this lust for monetary gain, those who can get rich through deception often will. Madoff acted upon an urge taught to him by society. Because society continues to uphold class divisions, the temptation to move upward in class can overpower empathy, morality, and the natural tendency to avoid social delinquency. White collar crime harms society though its manipulation and abuse of the capitalist system, using its workings to swindle, steal, and deceive. White collar crime humiliates its victims, causing them to hide their heads and avoid reporting perpetrators. Criminals like Bernie Madoff use these facts to their advantage as they fabricate schemes that harm not only the direct victims, but all of society though the large sums of money lost. White collar crime stands alone in its ability to non-violently destroy the wellbeing of
society.