Embezzlement is a type of theft or misappropriation of funds. It happens when someone takes funds from a business. That person uses their position within the company to access these funds, so it is not the same as traditional types of theft.
Another aspect of embezzlement is often that the individual will try to cover up the action in some way. Since they work for the company, they may be able to alter the books or otherwise disguise the theft. It often only comes to light when financial records are carefully examined.
Creating fake expenses
One example could be if someone creates false expenses and charges them to the company. Maybe they say that they spent $500 taking their clients out to dinner, but the reality is that the clients had to catch an early flight and so the person simply ate a meal at the hotel bar. They assume that no one will ask any questions and they can pocket the extra money when they get reimbursed for those false expenses.
Creative accounting
Another thing that sometimes happens is that the person who is in charge of tracking accounts will realize that they can alter those accounts and shift money around. They may transfer money to a personal fund and then change the records so that it looks like the money never existed in the first place. Like many other types of white-collar crime, this often happens with electronic records and actual cash never changes hands.
What are your defense options?
Those who are facing serious white-collar crime allegations need to know what legal defense options they have. This can impact far more than just your career.