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Is white collar crime exclusive to certain industries or jobs?

On Behalf of | Feb 6, 2023 | White Collar Crimes

The term “white collar crime” came about because those who committed it were traditionally white collar workers.

People started referring to people as white collar workers or blue collar workers in the 1920s. white collar workers tended to work in offices, and blue collar workers worked in the fields, factories or workshops.

While some still use these descriptions, things have changed a lot

Someone who works with cars is just as likely to be doing it from a laptop than with their hands. Someone who does the accounts might not be sitting in an office but on the beach, and they might be doing it in just a swimsuit with no collar of any kind in sight.

It is not so much about what you do for a living but the access you have

If you work as a landscape gardener, you might spend your day lugging bits of stone into place or driving machinery. Yet, you could face fraud charges related to billing your clients when you sit down at the computer at night. 

Remember, charges might not relate to your paid employment but to something you do in your spare time. If you work on a production line, you might enjoy hacking computers in your spare time. If you happen to hack a financial institution, you could face accusations of trying to steal money virtually.

It’s the intention to gain money by illicit means and the fact that no one is physically injured that defines white collar crimes rather than the clothes you wear.

These crimes can have serious consequences, so be sure to get legal help to understand your defense options if you face charges.

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