Understanding the Mindset of a Fraudster

Registration & Fees

Registration Fee:

ACFE Members: $395

Non-Members: $495

Course Outline

Day 1

• 8:30 – 9:50 a.m. Understanding the Behaviors and Motivations to Commit Fraud

  Fraud is a human act. It involves intentional acts such as deception, trickery or other dishonest action for the purpose of depriving others of their money or property. Therefore, to understand why people commit fraud, it is necessary to understand human behavior and the motivating factors that influence people to commit fraud. This block examines human behavior in more detail. It presents a broad survey of concepts and terminology necessary to understand why individuals engage in fraud.

• 10:05 – 11:25 a.m. Pressures, Opportunities and Rationalizations for Fraud

  The Fraud Triangle is the best and most widely accepted model for explaining why people commit fraud, and it provides that there are three factors that must be present at the same time for an ordinary person to commit fraud — pressure, perceived opportunity and rationalization. This block examines these three factors in detail.

• 11:25 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Lunch Break

  Lunch

• 12:30 – 1:50 p.m. Individual Traits and Fraudulent Behavior

  Fraud is criminal behavior, and criminal behavior is influenced in part, by personality. Personality is a dynamic and organized set of individual traits — such as behavioral, temperamental, emotional and mental — that characterize a unique individual. So, it is important to understand the personality traits that might influence fraudulent behavior. This block contains a discussion of common personality traits associated with fraudulent behavior.

Day 2

• 8:30 – 9:50 a.m. Using Behavioral Knowledge in Your Examination

  Fraud examinations, which involve efforts to resolve allegations or suspicions of fraud, encompass a variety of tasks, and to conduct more effective examinations, fraud examiners should employ behavioral science knowledge in all parts of the examination process. Fraud examiners can use such knowledge to assist in, among other things, developing investigative strategies, conducting interviews and establishing fraudster profiles. This block examines various ways in which fraud examiners can use behavioral science knowledge in the fraud examination process.

• 10:05 – 11:25 a.m. Fighting Back: Fraud Prevention Strategies

  Fraud prevention requires a program of policies, procedures and controls that, in the aggregate, minimizes the likelihood of fraud while maximizing the possibility of detecting any fraudulent activity that might occur. However, to establish effective anti-fraud policies, procedures and controls, it is necessary to understand the factors that cause individuals to engage in fraudulent behavior. This block applies knowledge about what drives individuals to commit fraud to the development of strategies for preventing fraud.

Presenter

Policies