Page 229 - ACFE Fraud Reports 2009_2020

Education of Perpetrator — Frequency

2008
Postgraduate 10.9% 2006
Education Level of Perpetrator Bachelor's 20.8% 33.4%
12.2%
Degree
34.4%
Degree
Some
21.6%
College
33.9%
High School
Graduate
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 32.8% 40%
35%
Percent of Cases

Education of Perpetrator — Median Loss

2008
Postgraduate $425,000 $550,000 2006
Education Level of Perpetrator Bachelor's $196,000
Degree
$210,000
Degree
$200,000
Some
College
$200,000
High School
$100,000
Graduate
$100,000
$0 $100,000 $200,000 $300,000 $400,000 $500,000 $600,000
Median Loss

Perpetrator’s Department

We also examined the perpetrators based on the department they worked in at the time of the fraud. of the
800 cases in which information about the perpetrator’s department was provided, the highest percentage of
schemes involved those in the accounting department. because these employees are responsible for processing
and recording the organization’s financial transactions, accounting staff generally have the greatest access to
its fiscal assets, as well as the most opportunity to conceal a fraud scheme. executives and upper management
were the second-most common category of fraudsters. internal auditors, who are charged with ensuring the
effectiveness of the organization’s internal controls, were the least common perpetrators of the fraud schemes
in our study.

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2008 Report to the Nation on occupational Fraud and abuse