Page 617 - ACFE Fraud Reports 2009_2020

Perpetrator’s Age FIG. 33 How does the perpetrator’s age relate to occupational fraud?
19% 19%
The age distribution of
occupational fraudsters
15%
is roughly bell-shaped, as 14%
seen in Figure 33. Losses,
however, tend to rise with 10% 9%
the age of the fraudster. PERCENT OF C A SES
The largest median losses 5% 6%
in our study were caused 3%
by fraudsters in the oldest
age ranges (56 and older),
while those who were 30 <26 26–30 31–35 36–40 41–45 46–50 51–55 56–60 >60
or younger caused a much
$23,000
smaller amount of damage. $40,000
$100,000 $100,000
MEDIAN L OSS $200,000 $250,000 $237,000

$355,000

$480,000

Perpetrator’s Education Level FIG. 34 How does the perpetrator’s education
level relate to occupational fraud?
Figure 34 shows there is also a correlation between the 47%
fraudster’s education level and the size of the fraud.
Those with a postgraduate degree caused a median
loss of USD 230,000 and those with a university degree
caused a median loss of USD 160,000. Both of these fig- 24%
ures were much higher than the median loss of schemes PERCENT OF C A SES
by fraudsters with a high school degree or less. 15% 14%

This data might indicate that highly educated fraudsters
have superior technical abilities or knowledge that make
High school Some University Postgraduate
them more effective at committing fraud, but it is also graduate or less university degree degree
probably influenced by the fraudster’s position of au-
thority. More highly educated individuals tend to occupy
higher positions within an organization. For example, in
our study approximately 68% of those with a university $75,000
or postgraduate degree were either managers or own-
ers/executives. MEDIAN L OSS $130,000 $160,000

$230,000

Perpetrators Report to the Nations 41