With the rise of technology and globalization, financial crimes have become more sophisticated, challenging, and widespread than ever before. These illegal activities range from money laundering and fraud to insider trading and cybercrime, and they pose a significant threat to financial institutions, businesses, and individuals alike.

In this article, we will dive into the various types of financial crimes, their impact on society, and the measures being taken to combat them. Whether you're a finance professional or simply interested in understanding the intricacies of financial crime, this guide is a must-read. So, let's get started.

What is Financial Crime?

Financial crimes refer to a wide range of illegal activities that involve the use of financial systems or institutions to gain illicit profits. These crimes can include money laundering, fraud, bribery, corruption, embezzlement, and terrorist financing.

Financial crime is a serious problem with far-reaching consequences for individuals, businesses, and society as a whole. It can undermine public trust in financial institutions, harm the economy, and even finance terrorist activities.

As a result, there are a variety of laws and regulations in place to detect, prevent, and prosecute financial crime. However, to detect every form of financial crime, an understanding of the various types of financial crimes will help greatly.

What are the Types of Financial Crimes?

These crimes can range from relatively minor offences, such as check forgery or credit card fraud, to complex and large-scale schemes involving billions of dollars.

Some of the most common types of financial crimes are:

1. Fraud

Fraud is a broad term that encompasses a range of financial crimes. It refers to any intentional deception or misrepresentation that results in financial gain for the perpetrator.

Fraud can be committed in various ways, including through the use of false identities, documents, or information. Examples of fraud include:

i. Investment fraud:

This occurs when an individual or organization uses false or misleading information to induce people to invest in a scheme. The perpetrator may promise high returns or use a Ponzi scheme to lure investors into investing their money.

ii. Insurance fraud:

This occurs when an individual or organization makes false insurance claims for personal gain. The perpetrator may exaggerate the value of the loss or damage or fake the occurrence of the event.

iii. Credit card fraud:

This occurs when an individual or organization uses someone else’s credit card or credit card information without their consent to make purchases or withdraw money.

iv. Identity theft:

This occurs when an individual or organization steals someone else’s personal information to commit fraud. The perpetrator may use the stolen information to open bank accounts, apply for credit, or make fraudulent purchases.

2. Money laundering

Money laundering is the process that disguises the proceeds of criminal activity as legitimate funds. Criminals use money laundering to avoid detection by law enforcement and to hide the origins of their illicit funds.

Examples of money laundering include:

i. Structuring:

This involves breaking down large sums of money into smaller amounts and depositing them into different accounts to avoid detection.

ii. Integration:

Integration involves using the laundered money to purchase legitimate assets or investments, such as real estate or stocks.

iii. Layering:

Layering involves transferring the laundered money between multiple accounts and financial institutions to make it difficult to trace.

3. Embezzlement

Embezzlement occurs when someone in a position of trust, such as an employee or a trustee, steals money or assets that have been entrusted to them for personal gain.

Examples of embezzlement include:

i. Employee theft:

This occurs when an employee steals money or assets from their employer, such as cash or inventory.

ii. Investment embezzlement:

This occurs when a financial advisor or broker steals their clients’ funds by making unauthorized transactions or by misappropriating their clients’ investments.

iii. Charity embezzlement:

This occurs when someone in charge of a charity or non-profit organization diverts funds for personal use.

4. Cybercrime

Cybercrime refers to criminal activity that is carried out using the internet or other digital technologies. Examples of cybercrime include:

i. Phishing:

This involves sending fraudulent emails or messages that appear to be from a reputable source in order to trick the recipient into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords or credit card numbers.

ii. Malware:

This refers to any software that is designed to cause harm to a computer system or network, such as viruses, Trojans, and ransomware.

iii. Cyber extortion:

This occurs when a criminal threatens to harm a company or individual’s reputation or data unless a ransom is paid.

Who Commits Financial Crimes?

Financial crimes can be committed by a variety of individuals and organizations, including:

Individuals
Corporations
Government officials
Criminal organizations
Cybercriminals

What are the measures against financial crimes?

To combat financial crimes, governments, international organizations, and financial institutions have implemented various measures. Here are some of the measures against financial crimes:

a. Know Your Customer (KYC) Requirements:

KYC requirements are implemented by financial institutions to verify the identity of customers and assess their potential risk of involvement in financial crimes. This includes collecting information about a customer’s identity, occupation, and source of income.

b. Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Regulations:

AML regulations aim to prevent criminals from using the financial system to launder money obtained from illegal activities. These regulations require financial institutions to report suspicious transactions, monitor transactions, and maintain records of customer transactions.

c. Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) Requirements:

EDD requirements are used by financial institutions to identify high-risk customers or transactions. This includes conducting more thorough background checks on customers and monitoring their transactions more closely.

d. Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs):

FIUs are government agencies that collect, analyze, and disseminate financial intelligence to combat financial crimes. FIUs receive reports from financial institutions and other sources and use this information to detect and investigate suspicious financial activities.

e. International Cooperation:

International cooperation is essential in the fight against financial crimes. Governments and international organizations work together to share information, coordinate investigations and develop international standards and guidelines.

f. Whistleblower Protections:

Whistleblower protections provide legal protections for individuals who report financial crimes or other illegal activities. This encourages individuals to report wrongdoing without fear of retaliation.

g. Enforcement:

Enforcement of financial crime laws is critical to deter criminal activity and hold perpetrators accountable. Governments and regulatory agencies must have the resources and authority to investigate and prosecute financial crimes.

By implementing these measures, we can effectively fight against financial crimes and prevent the misuse of financial systems for illegal activities.

How should a Firm React to Suspected Fraud?

If a firm suspects fraud within its organization, it should take immediate action to investigate the matter and prevent any further harm. The following steps are recommended:

i. Secure evidence

Preserve any evidence that may be related to the suspected fraud. This may include documents, emails, computer files, financial statements, and other relevant materials.

ii. Conduct an investigation

Conduct an internal investigation to determine the scope and nature of the suspected fraud. Depending on the situation, the investigation may be conducted by an internal team or an external party, such as an accounting or law firm.

iii. Notify authorities

If the suspected fraud involves criminal activity, the firm should notify the appropriate authorities, such as the police or regulatory agencies.

iv. Take corrective action

Once the investigation is complete, the firm should take appropriate corrective action, which may include terminating the employment of any individuals involved in the fraud, making changes to internal controls and procedures, or seeking restitution.

v. Communicate with stakeholders

The firm should communicate the results of the investigation and any corrective actions taken to stakeholders, such as shareholders, customers, and employees, as appropriate.

vi. Review policies and procedures

The firm should review its policies and procedures to determine whether changes are needed to prevent similar incidents in the future. It is important for a firm to handle suspected fraud with care and in a timely manner to minimize the impact on the business and its stakeholders.

Conclusion

Knowing the types of financial crimes can save one from a financial crisis. More importantly, it is necessary to be well conversant with the best options available to protect individuals and organizations from financial crimes.

With Youverify OS, you can have an automatable process which allows you to stay financial crime compliant according to the relevant regulatory laws.

See how 100+ leading companies use YV OS for Financial Crime Compliance and real-time risk detection. Request a demo today.