Page 99 - ACFE Fraud Reports 2009_2020

Table of Contents

Gender of Perpetrator – Median Loss

$160,000
Male
$200,000
Gender 2004

Female $60,000 2002
$60,000

$0 $50,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $250,000

Median Loss
The Effect of Age
There was a direct correlation in our study between the age of the perpetrator and the
size of the median loss, a trend that was consistent with data from our 2002 report.
As with income, tenure, and gender, we believe age is most likely a secondary factor,
typically reflective of the perpetrator’s position in the organization. While there were
only nine frauds in our study committed by persons over the age of 60, in those cases
the median loss was $527,000, which was 29 times higher than the losses caused by
the youngest perpetrators.

Approximately half of the perpetrators in our study (49%) were over the age of 40,
while only one in six (17%) were under the age of 30. This data runs counter to some
studies that have suggested that younger employees are more likely to commit illegal
acts.

Age of the Perpetrator — Frequency

2.0%
>60
2.5%
15.1%
51-60
14.7%
41-50 32.0%
30.1% 2004
Age 36-40 16.2% 2002
18.8%
18.0%
31-35
17.5%
26-30 10.7%
10.4%
5.9%
<26
6.0%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%

Percent of Cases

33