PANAJI
The gender dynamics of white-collar crime are emerging as a thought-provoking subject, especially in Goa, where criminal narratives have often focused on male perpetrators and migrant involvement.
However, the shift in spotlight: women, many of whom are locals, are increasingly at the forefront of scams duping fellow Goans with schemes that prey on trust.
In this complex issue, there’s a blend of greed, manipulation and the changing societal view. As the year’s fag-end saw a surge in women's involvement in white-collar crimes, the year's beginning was marked by a chilling incident of blue-collar crime -- a mother murdering her four-year-old son so that she could not share him with her estranged husband.
Breaking stereotypes
Globally, research suggests that the criminal behaviour of women, historically confined to acts like shoplifting and check fraud, is evolving to include white-collar offences as societal roles and opportunities shift. Former Goa State Commission for Women Chairperson Ezilda Sapeco echoes this, attributing the rise in such crimes to greed and a relentless race for a lavish lifestyle.
“In most cases, women are manipulated by male co-conspirators,” Sapeco observed, as she has been closely tracking the cases registered in the last couple of days. “Men know women inspire trust and they exploit this perception. However, not all women are innocent bystanders. Some are active players in these fraudulent schemes,” she quickly added.
Police speak from a gender-neutral lens
Goa Police, while declining to segregate crimes by gender, conceded a common motivator -- greed. “We are thoroughly investigating all cases and will ensure they are brought to a logical conclusion,” North Superintendent of Police (SP) Akshat Kaushal said while refusing to provide further details.
South SP Sunita Sawant also refrained from categorizing the cases by gender but shared her perspective on the root cause of such frauds. "Everyone wants to get rich quickly and greed is driving the increase in these incidents across Goa," she said.
Sawant further elaborated that in most cases, people want to make money in the shortest time possible without putting in hard work. “The desire for a luxurious lifestyle and the pursuit of status has fuelled this trend. Hard work is now just something written about in books,” she opined.
Manipulation and deception
Sapeco cited the recent fraudulent investment scheme where the woman accused, Tanvi Vast, allegedly orchestrated schemes targeting vulnerable groups such as senior citizens using feigned care and compassion to win their trust. “Such women want to have a luxury life,” she said.
Sapeco further added that some women, particularly those less educated, are unwitting participants, lured by fantasies of easy benefits while being kept in the dark about the consequences.
“These women are often planted into schemes by co-conspirators who do not let them know the darker realities,” Sapeco added, as he pointed at the involvement of a few in other white-collar crimes like jobs scams.
Even in crime… Ex-DGP explains
Retired Director General of Police (DGP) Muktesh Chander shed light on societal, psychological and economic factors. Having served in Goa with special emphasis on improving cyber security and traffic policing, Chander stated that there is no single reason behind this trend but several contributing aspects.
Explaining the economic angle, Chander revealed that women often benefit from concessions in stamp duty, somewhere around 1-2 per cent lower than standard rates which makes registering properties in their name a cost-effective strategy. Moreover, if a woman is an income taxpayer, it allows for income division.
On a psychological level, he observed that the presence of women often brings a sense of trust and credibility, which is exploited for committing crime. “People often think, ‘How could she commit fraud?’ and this assumption works to their advantage,” he explained.
In the realm of cybercrime, women are increasingly being used as bait in elaborate scams. “In cases like sextortion and fraud via WhatsApp messages, women are often the face of the operation. It lures victims into traps,” Chander stated.
Reflecting on the broader social changes, the retired IPS officer stated how the role of women in business, education and employment has transformed over the decades. “Fifty years ago, women’s participation in business affairs was minimal. Today, with liberalisation and women empowerment, their involvement has increased, not just in productive sectors but also, unfortunately, in criminal activities,” he quipped.
