Deck 4: Explaining White-Collar Crime: The Opportunity Perspective

Question 1

Identify and explain three of the distinguishing characteristics of white-collar crime.

Answer 1

There are a number of distinguishing characteristics of white-collar offenses, including legitimate access to the target of the offense, superficial appearance of legitimacy, and spatial separation between the offender and the victim. Legitimate access to the target means that the offender is not breaking the law or doing anything necessarily illegal in being near or interacting with the target. This access usually comes from an occupational role. The superficial appearance of legitimacy means that the offender's actions do not look illegal when viewed from the outside, and the spatial separation means that the offender does not have to come in direct physical contact with the victim or target.

Question 2

Identify and discuss the three techniques that are used to commit white-collar crimes.

Answer 2

The three techniques that are used to commit white-collar type crimes are deception, abuse of trust, and concealment and conspiracy. Deception is the main technique. In almost all white-collar crimes, the offender attempts to deceive others and get them to act or fail to act on the basis of untrue or deceptive information. Abuse of trust occurs when one person acts as an agent for or on behalf of another person (called the principal) and abuses the trust of that person by engaging in behavior that is not in their best interests. Concealment and conspiracy are involved when offenders attempt to hide the true nature of their actions and relationships from outside observers while they commit illegalities.

Question 3

Discuss the ways in which deception is achieved in white-collar crime.

Answer 3

Embellishment - making something sound better than it is.
Mimicking - making something appear normal when it is not
Hiding - the illegal activities

Question 4

Which of the following is a distinguishing property of white-collar crime?

A) The offender has legitimate access to the target or victim of the crime
B) The offender is often spatially separated from the victim
C) The offender's actions have the superficial appearance of legality
D) All of the above
E) None of the above

Question 5

Which one of the following is a characteristic of white-collar crime but is not usually a characteristic of common street crime?

A) The offender has legitimate access to the target
B) There is direct contact between the offender and the victim
C) The offender uses physical actions
D) The actions of the offender are obviously illegal

Question 6

According to routine activities theory, a criminal opportunity comprises which of the following elements (check all that apply)?

A) Timeliness
B) Suitable target
C) Incapable offender
D) Lack of guardianship

Question 7

Without an opportunity for it, crime cannot occur.

Question 8

Which of the following characteristics would make a person a suitable target for an offender?

A) Someone who is weak
B) Someone who is old
C) Someone who is wealthy
D) Someone who the offender finds emotionally valuable
E) All of the above
F) None of the above

Question 9

To say that property can be exchanged for something else is the same as saying that it is

A) Portable
B) Fungible
C) Valuable
D) All of the above
E) None of the above

Question 10

What are the two main forms of guardianship as described by the book (check all that apply)?

A) Personal strength
B) Blocking access
C) Surveillance

Question 11

With regard to white-collar crimes, enhancing guardianship to prevent this form of crime often involves locking doors to financial businesses.

Question 12

Unlike street criminals, white-collar criminals often have legitimate access to the location where the crime is committed.

Question 13

According to the book, _______ is the most important technique that white-collar offenders use to commit their offenses.

A) Deception
B) Abuse of trust
C) Concealment and conspiracy

Question 14

Deception occurs when (check all that apply):

A) A person intends to mislead another person (the victim)
B) A person intends to tell the truth to another person (the victim)
C) Someone is mislead about the truth
D) Someone is not mislead about the truth

Question 15

In the language of white-collar crime, _______ provide services (e.g., investment strategies) to _______.

A) Agents; principals
B) Principals; agents
C) Corporations; clients
D) Clients; corporations

Question 16

According to the book, deception is relational and perceptional in nature.

Question 17

Which is not a way in which deception in white-collar crime is achieved?

A) Embellishing
B) Mimicking
C) Hiding
D) Relating