Economic crimes are divided into three distinct categories: Blue-collar, White-collar, and Green-collar crimes. Most blue-collar crime consists of nonviolent forms of criminal behavior that are undertaken for monetary gain that maximize financial opportunities and minimize the odds of apprehension. White-collar crime is defined as any business-related act that uses deceit, deception, or dishonesty to carry out criminal enterprise. Green-collar crime can be viewed as a subdivision of white-collar crime. Green criminals are motivated by profit and are therefore not eco-terrorists or vandals. Crimes not motivated by profit, but by morality are public order crimes. Public order crimes are behaviors that are outlawed because they threaten the general well-being of society and challenge accepted moral principles.
A Ponzi scheme is an investment fraud that involves the payment of purported returns to existing investors from funds contributed by new investors. In many Ponzi schemes, the fraudsters focus on attracting new money to make promised payments to earlier-stage investors and to use for personal expenses, instead of engaging in any legitimate investment activity. Develop a hypothetical scenario involving a Ponzi scheme. Explain the details of the investigation/criminal activity. How much money was involved? How many people did it affect? What were the financial implications of the scheme? In your reply posts: Critically examine the postings of your peers and provide at least two (2) substantive replies. Based on your peers’ scenario, what punishment would you give the perpetrator? Why?