Applying evidence-based profiling to disaggregated fraud offenders

Abstract

In recent years, profiling has moved to a more evidence-based approach, and into mainstream forensic psychology as the new discipline of Behavioural Investigative Advice. Furthermore, profiling in the United Kingdom has become a recognised profession. The chapter first considers white-collar offenders, including fraud offenders, and individual differences as well as some myths about white-collar offenders before focusing on empirical (both exploratory and comparative) studies of such offenders’ characteristics and their limitations. Attention then turns to the offender profiling concept as it has evolved over the years, outlining approaches to it (diagnostic evaluation, criminal investigative analysis, crime action profiling, investigative psychology and geographical profiling) before focusing on the feasibility of applying a recast notion of geographical profiling to internet fraudsters. The chapter concludes about the importance of a small number of characteristics of fraud offenders and how they could be utilized to reduce the risk of fraud but, also, makes suggestions for future research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)