From white‐collar crime to red‐collar crime

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the issue of violence with respect to white‐collar criminals. Design/methodology/approach – The analysis is conceptual, focusing on the historical underpinnings of white‐collar crime and reviewing the evolution of white‐collar criminals. Findings – Findings suggest that white‐collar criminals do display violent tendencies and, contrary to popular belief, can become dangerous individuals. Practical implications – The paper represents an extremely useful and practical source for fraud examiners and other white‐collar crime investigators. Raising the awareness of investigators dealing with white‐collar criminals may prevent them from becoming victims of a violent act. Originality/value – The paper fulfills a need to highlight a dangerous trend with white‐collar criminals in that they may be driven to violence against those involved in investigating their crimes.