Say and Slay with Marina
An article for B1-C1 learners
In this article you’ll know what a White-collar crime means and some useful vocabulary connected with crimes. Also, you’ll find exercises for practice target words. Enjoy!
YYou see the headline of the article and think, “What does it mean? What’s white-collar crime?” Luckily, you have a detective to help you understand the meaning. Let’s investigate 🕵️♀️ (to discover the truth).
The term "white-collar" is a common adjective in English that describes a person working in an office or any work connected to office environments. In Russian, there is a similar term: белые воротнички. For example:
• white-collar workers (офисные работники)
• a white-collar lifestyle (офисный стиль жизни)
• a white-collar job (офисная работа)
• a white-collar career (офисная карьера)
• a white-collar position (офисная должность)
• a white-collar environment (офисная среда)
And finally a white-collar crime.
- A1-A2 definition:
A white-collar crime is when people working in offices, like business people or government workers break the law by cheating or stealing money without violence. Examples include lying about money, stealing from a company, or not paying taxes.
- B1-B2 definition:
A white-collar crime is a non-violent crime committed by professionals or office workers, usually involving money. It includes things like stealing money from a company, lying to get financial benefits, or avoiding taxes illegally. These crimes often happen in business or government settings.
- C1-C2 definition:
A white-collar crime is a nonviolent crime characterized by deceit to obtain or avoid losing money, or to gain a personal or business advantage.
There are different types of white-collar crimes that are important to know about:
- Fraud & False Statements. The crime of cheating somebody in order to get money or goods illegally (Мошенничество и ложные заявления).
- Money Laundering. The crime of moving money that has been obtained illegally so that it is difficult for people to know where the money came from. (Отмывание денег).
- Embezzlement. The act of stealing money that you are responsible for or that belongs to your employer (Хищение).
- Tax evasion. The crime of deliberately not paying all the taxes that you should pay (Уклонение от налогов).
- Extortion. The crime of making somebody give you something by threatening them (Вымогательство).
- Identity theft. Using somebody else’s name and personal information in order to obtain credit cards and other goods or to take money out of the person’s bank accounts (Кража личных данных).
Now, let's see these words in the context:
Let's practice😎
Instructions: Use the words in the box to complete the sentences below. Each word will only be used once.
Fraud, Money Laundering, Embezzlement, Tax Evasion, Extortion, Identity Theft
- ________________ happens when someone uses another person’s name or credit card without permission.
- When criminals try to hide illegal money by making it look like it comes from a legal source, this is called ________________.
- A worker who secretly takes money from their company is guilty of ________________.
- Forcing someone to give you money or favors by threatening them is called ________________.
- Lying to trick someone or making fake documents to cheat is known as ________________.
- ________________ happens when a person or company doesn’t pay the taxes they owe.
Answers are at the end of the article.😉
- Can you think of an example of fraud or false statements in real life? Why do you think people commit this type of crime?
- Money laundering is often used by criminals to hide illegal earnings. What methods do you think they might use to make dirty money appear legal?
- Imagine you discover a coworker is committing embezzlement by taking company funds. How would you handle the situation?
- Why is tax evasion considered a serious crime? Do you think the punishment should be stricter or more lenient?
- Identity theft can cause a lot of problems for victims. What steps can people take to protect their personal information from being stolen?
Answer Key:
1. Identity Theft 2.Money Laundering 3.Embezzlement, 4.Extortion 5.Fraud 6.Tax Evasion
I hope you had a great experience discovering new vocabulary. Don’t forget to practice these words, and feel free to ask questions in the comments.
Say & Slay 🥂