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How people rationalize fraud - Kelly Richmond Pope

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If you ask people whether they think stealing is wrong, most of them would answer yes. And yet, in 2013, organizations all over the world lost an estimated total of $3.7 trillion to fraud. Kelly Richmond Pope explains how the fraud triangle, (developed by criminologist Donald Cressey) can help us understand how seemingly good people can make unethical decisions in their daily lives.

Additional Resources for you to Explore

For more on the Fraud Triangle visit the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners site and view the graphic. How much fraud actually occurs in the different nations of the world and what exactly does the profile of a fraudster look like? Visit the ACFE Report of the Nation on occupational Fraud and Abuse and take a look, then click on the info-graphic: Profile of a Fraudster and start reading! While there, click on Behavioral Red Flags, learn the characteristic behaviors that a fraudster exhibits.

Interested in some of the most famous fraud cases in the world? Learn more by reading about: How Parmalat Went Sour and why it was so devastating. Were you fascinated by Rita Crundwall's defrauding of a small town in Illinois for over twenty years with no one even realizing? Start by reading the article: The Most Notorious Pink Collar Criminal To Be Sentenced For $53 Million Theft then, visit the site of a new documentary on the topic: All the Queen’s Horses. How long have fraud cases been around? For the Top 14 Financial Frauds of All Time visit CBS Money Watch.

Interested in a career fighting fraud? Visit this site and find out more! You can also check out how to become a Forensic Accountant. Need more information? Visit the Federal Bureau of Investigation and read: FBI Forensic Accountants: Following the Money. Finally, this interview with a forensic accountant gives more insight into this exciting and fulfilling job.

For a TED Ed lesson that addresses a topic similar to this one, watch: How to spot a counterfeit bill by Tien Nguyen.

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