Money laundering is a crime based on the concealment or disguise of the proceeds of illegal activities. It is a complex process that typically involves a number of transactions designed to hide the origin of the funds and make them appear legitimate. How money laundering works Money laundering involves three stages: placement, layering and integration. During the placement stage, the person introduces the illegal proceeds into the financial system, often through cash deposits or other means of transfer. In the layering stage, the funds move through a series of transactions, frequently involvin ..read more

Healthcare fraud is common.  It occurs in various ways. Healthcare providers may face fraud charges because they purposely take illegal actions. However, simple mistakes or inattentiveness may also result in charges. Providers are not the only ones who might face fraud convictions. Patients and other may individuals also take part in abusing the system. Fraud by healthcare providers Many cases of healthcare fraud stem from the actions of medical and other healthcare providers. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services discusses some of the common examples of how such frauds are commi ..read more

Executives across all industries can benefit from research that gives them insights into their competitors’ marketing strategies. Gathering competitive intelligence can help you identify your company’s strengths and weaknesses or reveal untapped niches. Still, knowing what information you may legally gather and how you may obtain it can prevent you from committing illegal corporate espionage. What are some legal ways to gather competitive intelligence? Gathering information about your competitors from publicly available sources can ensure that you remain knowledgeable about key industry player ..read more

When you get into trading assets, you must follow all written and unwritten rules. Obeying trading laws and regulations is crucial in cultivating a strong relationship with the market. It is one of the most important things you can do. In order to do so, you also need to have a firm understanding of the actions that are considered illegal. This includes insider trading. Examples of insider trading The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission looks into insider training. Insider trading occurs when individuals use inside information to make decisions regarding their stocks. In other words, it gi ..read more

Tax forms and tax rules are incredibly confusing. It is not unheard of for someone to make an honest mistake when completing the annual tax return. You might wonder if you could get into trouble due to such a mistake. Finance Train explains that the IRS does not usually pursue criminal charges for tax issues unless it suspects there was intentional fraud. It is unlikely that you would face charges for a simple mistake. Criminal charges The IRS usually does not investigate criminal tax issues involving less than $70,000. It simply is not worth the time and money to investigate smaller ..read more

Crimes often fall into one of two categories: white collar and blue collar crimes. For example, fraud is a white collar crime while armed robbery is a blue collar crime. Even white collar crimes come with hefty penalties if you are convicted. This is especially true when it involves the U.S. government in any way, as is the case with mail fraud. Why is mail fraud a felony? Why does the federal government prosecute mail fraud cases? Simply put, any form of mail fraud must sooner or later utilize the United States postal system. Even if you use private couriers, all mail travels through the gove ..read more

White collar crimes are quite different from typical criminal acts in a variety of ways. According to the FBI, the main distinguishing factor of a white collar crime is that it is based on fraud. White collar crimes can be felonies or misdemeanors, but they are often treated differently in court than other types of crimes. White collar crimes include bankruptcy fraud, insider trading, mortgage fraud, money laundering and embezzlement. Some common differentiators include the following: The crimes are typically nonviolent Most often, crimes that fall under this umbrella are nonviolent. They may ..read more

Federal law treats wire and mail fraud as two different subjects. While they are separate charges with their own penalties and processes, they share a good number of similarities. While the similarities often dictate how each charge gets treated, the distinctions determine what penalty you might face and how easy it is for the prosecution to pursue a charge. Differences between wire fraud and mail fraud The Congressional Research Service provides a thorough overview of both wire fraud and mail fraud. What applies to one often applies to the other. However, there are some notable differences. F ..read more

Mail fraud gets treated seriously in the criminal courts. If you are accused of committing this type of crime, you could suffer heavy consequences that may last years. Why is mail fraud treated so harshly? Are certain instances of mail fraud treated differently than others? What is mail fraud exactly? The Congressional Research Service provides a helpful overview of the potential consequences for mail fraud. Mail fraud involves the use of the United States postal system in furtherance of fraudulent schemes. This includes anything sent through the mail, such as postcards, letters and packages ..read more

The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) prohibits United States citizens, residents and businesses from engaging in bribery. The U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission explain how your actions may violate the FCPA’s anti-bribery rules. What activities are regulated by the FCPA? Your activities may fall under the scope of the FCPA if you pay, offer to pay, promise to pay or authorize the payment of money or items of value to a foreign official with the intent to achieve a business advantage. This corrupt intent may trigger an FCPA violation even if the ..read more