NCJ Number
56607
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
CHARACTERISTICS OF FRAUD DIFFERENTIATING IT FROM OTHER CRIMES, AND FRAUD PREVENTION PROBLEMS ARE PRESENTED TO ASSIST WEST GERMAN POLICE COUNSELORS IN CONTROLLING WHITE COLLAR CRIME.
Abstract
FRAUD DIFFERS FROM OTHER CRIMES IN DIRECT OFFENDER-VICTIM CONTACT AND IN THE TENDENCY OF THE VICTIM TO BLAME HIMSELF FOR THE CRIME AND NOT TO REPORT IT BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL REACTION OF PEOPLE SURROUNDING HIM. IN CASES OF FRAUD, THE OFFENDER MAY PERPETRATE DECEPTIONS OVER A SHORT PERIOD WHEN SMALL SUMS ARE INVOLVED OR MAY SPEND LONG PERIODS OF PREPARATION USING HIS OWN IDENTITY TO OBTAIN LARGE SUMS. POLICE COUNSELORS MUST CONSTANTLY ACQUIRE NEW KNOWLEDGE AS EVERY FRAUD CASE IS DIFFERENT. A COMPUTER ANALYSIS OF QUESTIONNAIRES ADMINISTERED TO WEST GERMAN POLICE COUNSELING OFFICES SHOWS THAT COUNSELORS WITH EXPERTISE IN ECONOMIC CRIMES GENERALLY HAVE OVER 5 YEARS WORK EXPERIENCE (45 PERCENT), FRAUD COUNSELORS TEND TO SPECIALIZE IN A PARTICULAR TYPE OF CASE, AND THE MAJORITY OF RESPONSES FAVOR INCREASED COUNSELING SERVICES TO REDUCE DAMAGES AND PUBLIC IGNORANCE. THE MOST COMMON LEGAL PROBLEMS INTERFERING WITH FRAUD COUNSELING ARE DANGER OF DISCLOSING OFFICIALJ SECRETS; IMPOSSIBILITY OF PROVIDING COUNSELING BECAUSE OF POTENTIAL COUNSELING MISUSE, PROHIBITION ON CIVIL RIGHTS COUNSELING, OR LACKING COMPETENCE OF THE COUNSELOR; PERSONNEL SHORTAGES; DANGER OF DAMAGE SUITS; BEHAVIOR OF THE POTENTIAL VICTIM; AND THE COUNSELOR'S UNCERTAINTY REGARDING LEGAL QUESTIONS. A HIGH DEGREE OF CONFUSION EXISTS ABOUT THE LEGAL CONSEQUENCES OF FRAUD COUNSELING. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT OF COUNSELING SERVICES INCLUDE BETTER TRAINING, INCREASES IN PERSONNEL, NEW ORGANIZATION WITH A SEPARATE OFFICE FOR FRAUD COUNSELING, BETTER PUBLIC RELATIONS, AND ELIMINATION OF LEGAL AMBIGUITY CONNECTED TO COUNSELING. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)