According to the FBI, “white-collar crime is … synonymous with the full range of frauds committed by business and government professionals … characterized by deceit, concealment, or violation of trust …. The motivation behind these crimes is financial—to obtain or avoid losing money, property, or services or to secure a personal or business advantage.”  CPAs can and should play a crucial role in preventing and detecting white-collar crime, as well as in prosecuting the perpetrators.  This session will explore whether we are up to this challenge, heighten awareness regarding the CPA’s role as a front-line defender of the public interest, and assess whether we are deserving of the public trust we enjoy.

Basic Course Information

Learning Objectives

• What white collar crime is
• Nature and characteristics of white-collar crime
• Why CPAs play a key role in combating white-collar crime
• Recent, high-profile white-collar crime cases

Major Subjects

• Definitions of white-collar crime
• White-collar crime characteristics and statistics
• The CPA’s role in combating white-collar crime