Fraud: The Hidden Epidemic!
Editorial: Why Fraudsters Deserve the same Scrutiny as Serial Killers.
Fraudsters often defy the image of the typical villain; they are frequently charismatic and intelligent individuals who blend effortlessly into professional settings. A comprehensive review of psychological studies reveals a pattern of personality traits that facilitate their deceitful actions. The most significant traits include:
1. Manipulativeness and Deception
2. Risk-Taking and Rationalisation
3. Psychopathic Tendencies in Corporate Environments
While law enforcement allocates substantial resources to pursue serial killers, employing sophisticated behavioural profiling units and high-profile task forces, the response to fraud is often alarmingly underwhelming. Although fraud doesn't claim lives in the same dramatic way as violent crime, its repercussions can be equally devastating. Victims may find themselves facing dire financial ruin, unable to meet medical expenses, especially vulnerable older adults who are prime targets for exploitation.
This crisis is exacerbated by systemic police resource shortages and staffing deficits, allowing fraudsters to operate as serial offenders without fear of capture. Unlike serial killers, who draw swift response from multiple agencies, fraudsters can shift seamlessly from one scheme to another, be it Ponzi scams, investment frauds, or identity theft, often evading justice for years. During this time, victims suffer catastrophic losses, families are shattered, and despair can lead to tragic outcomes such as suicide.
There is a growing consensus that underfunded fraud units, redeployed detectives pressed into other duties, and overwhelmed investigators create an environment where these predators can operate largely unchecked. This neglect allows the damage they inflict to compound dramatically until a collapse occurs or a rare breakthrough in the case is achieved. We must urgently address this imbalance, shining a light on the severe impact of fraud and demanding stronger action to protect vulnerable members of our community.
Source: Joha-Maine Andrianatos. (29 January 2026). The Hidden Epidemic: Why Fraudsters Deserve the Same Scrutiny as Serial Killers. Fraud Talk. LinkedIn.
