Fraudster Personas identified by the Serious Fraud Office’s Counter Fraud Centre
We’ve all had those texts and emails saying you need to click through here for your missing package or unpaid invoice. Or the text impersonating your child saying they have smashed their phone and need you to help them. Most of us will even have a friend or family member who has been conned into giving the fraudsters their credit cards and personal information.
The Serious Fraud Office has identified common tried and tested methods fraudsters use to commit financial crimes. According to the Guide, fraudsters tend to use a variety of methods from several different personas. They might deceive a public official by impersonating another individual, fabricate evidence and then conceal their activity.
The seven fraudster personas identified by the Guide include:
- The Impersonator – pretends they are another person or entity to dishonestly gain a benefit for themselves or another person. This might involve using false or stolen identities, attributes or credentials for personal gain.
- The Corruptor – abuses their position of entrusted power to gain a benefit to themselves or another person. This might involve negative incentives such as threats or intimidation, or positive incentives such as bribes.
- The Deceiver – makes others believe something that is not true to dishonestly gain a benefit for themselves or another person. This might involve providing false statements, deliberate misrepresentation or withholding facts or circumstances.
- The Enabler – knowingly or complacently enables fraudulent activity to dishonestly gain a benefit for themselves or another person. This might involve an individual who intentionally keeps themselves unaware of the circumstances to avoid responsibility.
- The Exploiter – uses something for a wrongful purpose to dishonestly gain a benefit for themselves or another person. This might involve misusing their position or privileges or dishonestly exploiting a vulnerability for personal gain.
- The Fabricator – invents or produces documents that are false to dishonestly gain a benefit for themselves or another person. This might involve creating false invoices or other types of records for personal gain.
- The Organised – are a group of people who use a combination of sophisticated methods, in a planned and coordinated way to dishonestly gain a benefit for themselves. This may involve using professional facilitators and service providers to help or facilitate their criminal activities.
For each fraudster persona the Guide also lists examples of exploiter actions, red flags to look out for and counter measures.
Additional Tips for General Protection:
- Regularly monitor your financial statements for any unauthorised transactions.
- Educate yourself about common fraud tactics and stay updated on the latest scams.
- Use secure Wi-Fi connections, especially when conducting financial transactions.
- Be cautious when clicking on links in emails or messages, even if they appear to be from trusted sources.
By understanding these fraudster personas and implementing protective measures, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to various fraudulent schemes. Always exercise caution, be proactive in safeguarding your information, and stay informed about emerging threats.
Hopefully the above has given you a bit of an inside into the fraudster persona and how you can protect yourself and your business from being defrauded.
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