An embezzler or other workplace fraud perpetrator will often display certain telltale red flags. One of the many charts included in the "2008 Report to the Nation on Occupational Fraud & Abuse," published by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, includes the following listing of these behavioral indicators:
- Living beyond means (370 cases; 38.6% of 959 total cases in the study)
- Financial difficulties (327; 34.1%)
- Wheeler-dealer attitude (195; 20.3%)
- Control issues, unwillingness to share duties (179; 18.7%)
- Divorce/family problems (164; 17.1%)
- Unusually close association with vendor/customer (146; 15.2%)
- Irritability, suspiciousness, or defensiveness (130; 13.6%)
- Addiction problems (128; 13.3%)
- Past legal problems (83 cases; 8.7%)
- Past employment-related problems (76; 7.9%)
- Complaining about inadequate pay (70; 7.3%)
- Refusal to take vacations (65; 6.8%)
- Excessive pressure from within the organization (62; 6.5%)
- Instability in life circumstances (47; 4.9%)
- Excessive family/peer pressure for success (40; 4.2%)
- Complaining about lack of authority (35; 3.6%)
Download the complete 2008 Report to the Nation on Occupational Fraud & Abuse
