Introduction
WASHINGTON, D.C. — October 7, 2025 — They may not carry weapons or wear masks, but white-collar criminals can devastate entire companies, wipe out life savings, and corrode public trust in institutions. The FBI’s White-Collar Crime Program focuses on uncovering and dismantling these complex financial crimes, which often stretch across state and international borders.
The Invisible Impact of Financial Crimes
Unlike traditional crimes, white-collar offenses are non-violent — yet their consequences are far-reaching. From fraudulent billing schemes to insider trading and money laundering, these crimes can inflict billions of dollars in losses each year and threaten the integrity of global financial systems.
The FBI leads national efforts to analyze intelligence, identify criminal networks, and investigate large-scale economic schemes. Working closely with partners such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau coordinates multi-agency operations to bring offenders to justice and restore confidence in the economy.
Major Areas of Investigation
Health Care Fraud:
The FBI serves as the primary federal agency investigating fraud in both public and private health care programs. Offenders—whether providers or patients—exploit medical billing systems for unlawful gain, driving up insurance costs and taxes for everyone. These schemes can lead to unnecessary treatments, inflated claims, and losses totaling tens of billions annually.
Mortgage and Corporate Fraud:
Mortgage fraud often falls into two categories: fraud for profit, where insiders exploit the system for personal gain, and fraud for housing, where borrowers falsify income or manipulate property appraisals. Meanwhile, corporate fraud investigations target accounting manipulation, insider trading, and kickback schemes that conceal financial misconduct within major organizations.
Money Laundering:
Turning “dirty money” into seemingly legitimate income remains a cornerstone of organized financial crime. The FBI targets professional launderers and complicit institutions who conceal criminal proceeds through international transfers, shell companies, or cryptocurrency. By tracing complex money trails, agents expose hidden assets and disrupt networks that fund further criminal activity.
Securities and Financial Institution Fraud:
With trillions flowing through global markets, opportunities for deceit abound. The FBI investigates fraudulent investment schemes, market manipulation, and embezzlement within banks and credit unions. Such schemes not only endanger investors but can also lead to the collapse of entire financial institutions.
Intellectual Property Theft:
Stealing trade secrets and counterfeit production cost American businesses billions each year. The FBI collaborates with the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPRCenter) to safeguard innovation and prevent the spread of counterfeit products that could endanger public safety.
Reporting and Awareness
Victims and witnesses of white-collar crimes are urged to report suspicious activities through tips.fbi.gov or the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Early reporting not only aids investigations but also helps recover stolen assets and prevent further harm.
The FBI emphasizes that white-collar crime is not victimless—it is a silent assault on trust, stability, and the nation’s economic security. Through collaboration, vigilance, and enforcement, the Bureau continues to protect the financial integrity of the United States.
