Page 102 - ACFE Fraud Reports 2009_2020

Table of Contents

Number of Perpetrators – Median Loss

Number of Perpetrators Two or more $67,000 $200,000 $450,000 2004
$58,500
One

2002

$0 $100,000 $200,000 $300,000 $400,000 $500,000
Median Loss

The Perpetrators’ Criminal Histories

As was the case in our previous studies, most of the perpetrators we encountered in
this survey were first-time offenders. This finding is consistent with other studies,
particularly the research of Dr. Donald Cressey, which suggests that most occupational
fraudsters are not career criminals. There were 363 cases in which the respondent was
able to provide information about the past criminal history of the perpetrator, and in
83% of those cases the perpetrator had never been charged or convicted prior to the
offense in question. This number actually reflected a slight decline from the results of
our 2002 study. The number of perpetrators with prior convictions rose slightly, from
9% in 2002 to 12% in 2004.

Perpetrators’ Criminal Histories

Never charged or 82.9%
convicted 87.4%
Criminal History convictions 8.8% 2004

11.6%
Had prior
2002

Charged but not
convicted 5.5%
3.7%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Percent of Cases

36