Final answer:
The two highest profile waves of white-collar crime in early 21st century U.S. are financial scandals and cybersecurity breaches, including massive accounting frauds by companies like Enron and wide-ranging effects of data breaches.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two highest profile waves of white-collar crime that have occurred in the United States in the first part of the 21st century are classified as a) Financial scandals and b) Cybersecurity breaches. Financial scandals include massive accounting frauds, as seen with companies like Enron, WorldCom, and individuals such as Bernard Madoff, who was behind a large Ponzi scheme. These scandals often involve the inflation of assets, embezzlement, and other forms of corporate crime, causing significant damage to the economy and investors. On the other hand, cybersecurity breaches can lead to identity theft, financial theft, national security risks, power shutdowns, and even election interference, as digital infrastructures become increasingly central to our lives and economies. Data breaches not only result in chaos but also incur substantial financial costs for individuals and companies alike.