Home → Publications → Reports → Trends and issues → The psychology of fraud
The psychology of fraud
- Trends and issues in crime and criminal justice, no. 199
- ISBN 0 642 24224 0 ; ISSN 0817-8542
- Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, March 2001
- Print version (PDF 62kB)
- Order hardcopy ($5.50 incl GST)
Abstract
Fraud, like other crime, can best be explained by three factors: a supply of motivated offenders, the availability of suitable targets and the absence of capable guardians-control systems or someone "to mind the store", so to speak (Cohen & Felson 1979).In this, the first of two papers, the authors focus on motivation and other psychological aspects of fraud. They identify a number of psychological correlates of fraud offending, but note that these are by no means unique to fraud, and do not necessarily differentiate fraudsters from law-abiding citizens. The other two factors, opportunities and guardianship, provide more scope for fraud control and are addressed in a companion paper on "red flags", or situational indicia, of fraud risk.
Related links
- Related paper: Red flags of fraud
- Information on how to order this publication
- Disclaimer, accessibility and copyright