Page 227 - ACFE Fraud Reports 2009_2020

Annual Income of Perpetrator — Frequency

40.8% 2008
<$50,000
43.5%
$50,000- 29.1% 32.7% 2006
$99,999
Income of Perpetrator $100,000- 5.2% 11.8%
$149,000
12.7%
$150,000-
$199,999
5.2%
$200,000-
6.1%
$499,999 5.8%
$500,000+ 3.5%
3.7%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
Percent of Cases

While the number of fraudsters decreased as income brackets rose, the median loss for the fraud schemes in
our study increased directly with the annual income of the perpetrator. Those perpetrators earning less than
$50,000 per year caused a median loss of $75,000, while on the other end of the pay scale, employees with
the highest annual salaries caused the greatest median losses. The 29 schemes perpetrated by individuals who
earned over $500,000 were associated with a median loss of $50 million dollars — 50 times that of any other
income bracket.

Median Loss Based on Perpetrator’s Annual Income

$50,000,000
$50,000,000
$40,000,000

Median Loss $30,000,000

$20,000,000

$10,000,000
$75,000 $162,000 $375,000 $590,000 $1,000,000
$0
<$50,000 $50,000- $100,000- $150,000- $200,000- $500,000+
$99,999 $149,999 $199,999 $499,999
Income of Perpetrator

51

2008 Report to the Nation on occupational Fraud and abuse