What Is Racketeering?
Racketeering is the attempt to make personal gains through coercion or extortion. It is often used by organized crime members and it is also sometimes used by individuals that want to make some money. In some instances, racketeering can become very violent, and victims can be forced to live in awful conditions.
There are numerous different types of crime that fall under the racketeering umbrella. Anybody that is found guilty of racketeering might find themselves serving 20 years in prison, and they may also be ordered to pay a fine of up to $25,000. Here’s a few examples of crimes that fall under the racketeering category.
1. Protection Racket
A protection racket is basically when assistance is offered in helping to protect people or property from harm from others. This is typically done in exchange for money. It was a common theme in 1950s gangster movies and, while it is not as prevalent as it used to be, it still occurs today. It may not sound so bad to begin with, even helpful, except that the people that are taking the money for protection are often those that will be doing harm if no payment is received. In such instances, those making the demands are often so powerful that most people are powerless to resist.
2. Illegal Gambling
Many of us like to gamble occasionally, even if it is just a small bet on a football game, playing bingo, or even just buying a lottery ticket. This is usually just fine, provided you don’t overdo it, but do bear in mind that it is not legal in some states and some other locations around the world. There is potentially a lot of money to be made from gambling, meaning criminal organizations might want to get involved.
Illegal gambling is likely to bring people in close contact with criminal elements and this can be dangerous. The gambling is also unlikely to be regulated, meaning the house could be cheating to take your money from you.
3. Money Laundering
If you have made money through illegal channels, then you will not want the authorities to know about it. If you have a lot of money with no apparent legal source of this money then you may catch the attention of the authorities, and this can land you in a lot of trouble.
Many criminals will try to launder their money, which is to make it appear as though it was earned legitimately. One way to achieve this is to open a legitimate business through which illegal money can be paid, giving the appearance that the money was earned through honest means.
4. Theft
One of the most direct ways of racketeering is through stealing what is not yours. It is a method often used by low-level criminals as they may look to break into peoples’ homes to see what they can take of value. It can also be used by more advanced criminal organizations or individuals when there are items of high value to be taken.
Theft is often used as a way to raise money because stolen goods are then sold on. Other forms of theft might include hacking into bank accounts and similar so the thieves can appropriate funds for themselves. Remember that thefts are usually opportunistic, so try and make sure your belonging are not left exposed.
5. Kidnapping
Most of us would do anything that we can to help somebody we love, and criminals will sometimes take full advantage of this to their profit. If criminals are able to kidnap somebody then they may be able to demand a ransom for their release. The ransom demand might sometimes be made directly to the person they kidnapped.
People in a position of authority are also sometimes targeted. In addition to being kidnapped for money, people might also be kidnapped to give the kidnappers political bargaining power. Many nations have a policy of not meeting the demands of terrorists who have kidnapped their citizens to help prevent them from becoming targets.
6. Drug Dealing
The war on drugs is one that is going to be never ending, at least until approaches to the problem are changed. One of the problems with it being illegal is that it forces the industry into the hands of criminals who know they can make money from it, and this leads to a range of other problems. Regardless of legality, drugs will remain in demand and there are always people willing to take risks to make money.
Even if dealers are imprisoned, it simply makes way for more to take their place. Clampdowns will also only make drugs more expensive due to the increased risk, making the trade even more appealing to some.
7. Bribery
Whenever we want something done, we generally have to go through the official channels. The same goes if we are arrested and need to avoid prison or other penalties. These are usually done by the book, but some people might try to pay their way around the system.
People in positions of power might be tempted to abuse that power by taking bribes in exchange for their assistance. This can mean anything from granting construction permits to construction companies, to bribing judges for a lenient sentence. Sometimes, a bribe is accompanied by a threat that something bad could happen if it is not accepted.
8. Loan Sharking
A lot of people around the world are struggling to make ends meet. Even people that are working as hard as they can are not always able to meet with their financial commitments, and some might struggle to pay their rent, their bills, and even to buy food for themselves and their families.
People that are in a desperate position might struggle to get a loan from legitimate sources, forcing them to go to loan sharks instead. These loan sharks will generally charge ridiculously high interests on any loans that they give. This can leave people that took out a loan with them unable to repay their debt, and this can sometimes turn into violence.
9. Fraud
Fraud is defined as acquiring personal or financial gain through deceptive means. It often means tricking other people into handing over money or other valuables, but the one giving ultimately ends up receiving nothing in return, or somebody else ends up having to repay the debt.
Credit card fraud is one of the most common methods of fraud, while others might forge checks and/or other potentially valuable documents. In some instances, politicians might try and commit electoral fraud to help give them an advantage over the opposition. A lot of people committing fraud will get away with it, although many are eventually caught.
10. Human Trafficking
It is unfortunate that there are still people in the world that are willing to pay for other people to keep them as slaves. These people are often forced to work in appalling conditions while some, including children, are forced into the sex trade.
It is mostly people from poorer parts of the world that are most at risk from the industry, but some in wealthy countries are also abducted. Despite the moral reprehensibility of such a trade, many are still willing to get involved because of the money that can be made. Sadly, most of the people that are abducted by human traffickers disappear forever.
