NCJ Number
77935
Journal
Police Product News Volume: 5 Issue: 7 Dated: (July 1981) Pages: 54-59
Date Published
1981
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Types of con games and other kinds of white-collar crime are described, and police responses are discussed.
Abstract
White-collar crime involves the offender's use of guile and deception for personal gain at the expense of the victim. It is the responsibility of the police officer to become familiar with the con games commonly practiced against unsuspecting citizens and businesses. This knowledge will facilitate communication with victims and the obtaining of evidence, as well as the development of programs and police activities to prevent such crimes. Con games involve simple or sometimes elaborate enticements for victims to give up their money prior to the receiving of promised benefits that never materialize. Con games committed against businesses, such as banks, involve a deceptive use of business practices or services to steal money or merchandise. Types of illegal schemes include altered check scams, bankruptcy fraud, bribes and kickbacks, business opportunity schemes (franchising fraud, pyramid schemes, etc.), lottery fraud, and unemployment fraud. Computer-related crime is a growing white-collar crime. This requires that police become familiar with basic computer terminology and business circumstances likely to produce computer-related crime. Circumstances that a beat officer may observe that indicate the possibility of some type of white-collar crime are discussed.