When California residents hear that a person committed a crime, they most likely jump to picturing a burglary or murder. In reality, financial crimes are some of the most common. You may hear these referred to as white-collar crimes. There are many different types of white-collar crimes that a person may be accused of committing.
Counterfeiting
One financial crime that could land a person in criminal court is counterfeiting. This involves corrupting the monetary system in the United States, which is something that the government takes very seriously. Counterfeiting is the activity of using fake money or altering existing real money to be more valuable. When this crime happens on a large scale, it disrupts the flow of deflation and inflation.
Embezzlement
Embezzlement is a common white-collar crime that most people have heard about. It involves using funds that a person was entrusted with without the proper authorization. This activity can occur between a financial advisor and their client or an employee and their employer. In all cases, the accused person was entrusted with managing the funds, and they used them in a manner they were not authorized to do.
Securities fraud
Securities fraud is a broad term given to a number of white-collar crimes that affect the illegal manipulation of the financial market. Some common types of securities fraud include preferential rates, misrepresentation of value and insider trading.
While you may not hear about them as often as you do other types of crimes, white-collar crimes like counterfeiting, embezzlement and securities fraud are common. If you’ve been accused of a financial crime, it may be a good idea to hire an attorney to help with your case.