Stupid fraud tricks

“It’s not uncommon to glamorize fraudsters. They are often clever, charming and cunning. Their schemes are frequently brilliant and breathtakingly bold. Even the words “con artists” used to describe them bestow a degree of respect and admiration for their accomplishments, immoral and illegal though they may be. Not all fraudsters, however, are deserving of our reluctant praise. In fact, for every Frank Abagnale, the master of fraud and false identity portrayed in the film Catch Me If You Can by actor Leonardo DiCaprio, there are myriad examples of bungling, clumsy and downright stupid fraudsters. In fact, the inept ones are more common than the inspired schemers. Nonetheless, they do evoke a certain response from fraud investigators — comic relief.”

(Read the article “Stupid fraud tricks” in the August 2011 issue of CAmagazine online.)