There is no single all-encompassing definition of the phenomenon of economic crime. According to the German BKA it encompasses offences:

• in which actual or forged economic activities take place,
• that result in an impact on economic life as a whole and exceed the financial damage caused to individuals,
• which require specialist business expertise and know how to commit as well as to investigate.

The factors which are generally required for a fraud to occur are illustrated in the Fraud Triangle.

The extent to which organisations and individuals are affected by economic crime is set out under the extent and significance of economic crime.

The different classifications of economic crimes is set out in the categorization of economic crimes.