Profiling The Fraudster: Removing the Mask to Prevent and Detect Fraud

Chapter 8Criminal and Fraud Offender Profiling

CRIMINAL OFFENDER PROFILING IS A METHOD of collating various pieces of information and data or intelligence relating to a crime or crime offender. This intelligence is then formulated into a profile that can be used to model future criminals and fraudsters and fraud events as part of an organization's effective antifraud management program. It is used to understand why and how the crime was committed and will assist with establishing the most likely offender at future crime scenes. The creation of an investigative profile would include data that is gathered on an offender, such as passport or identity number, address, criminal record, vehicles owned, employment records, academic qualifications, cell phone records, and bank statements.

The Criminal Mind-Set

Criminal profiling is used by the police and other law enforcement agencies as a tried and proven method to solve crimes. It is a method that is employed particularly for violent crimes, such as murder, abductions, and assaults. Also known as offender profiling, it involves studying the tendencies, characteristics, and mind-set of a criminal in order to ascertain his or her identity or that of like-minded individuals. Criminal investigators will also analyze the crime scene to figure out the nature, characteristics, and modus operandi of the crime. This information can be used to supplement a criminal profile.

Almost any piece of forensic or crime scene evidence, no matter how ...