Fraud Victimization: The Extent, the Targets, the Effects

Acts of fraud committed against individuals and house-holds attract considerable attention in the media, but these crimes are reported largely as specific incidents. Finding more systematic information—how frequently these crimes occur, what types are most common, who is most prone to be targeted—is no easy task. Data on this type of offense are not collected in the major crime surveys, and research is needed to fill the gap. To better grasp the extent and nature of personal fraud victimization, the National Institute of Justice conducted a study of this crime. Fraud Victimization—The Extent, the Targets, the Effects discusses the findings of the study, based on a 1991 Nationwide telephone survey, which revealed that a fairly large proportion of the population is affected, and that losses can be high. In fact, the overall monetary loss was estimated to be more than $40 billion annually.