Skip to content

What drives an insider theft?

Question: 
I keep noticing that the number of orders of prohibition and removal seems to be increasing. Most of these orders look like the banker has committed some financial thefts. What drives these people to sacrifice their reputations for money?
Answer: 

When a person's values, morals and ethics are compromised, the person's remaining values, morals and ethics also become affected. In other words, a person's corruption in one area eventually leads to multiple corruptions in all areas. Think of this concept as having convenient or flexible morals - a value system that can be turned on or off.

Embezzlement thrives during times of national or global financial unease - desperate people commit desperate acts. Embezzlement is often the most complicated crime to discover -- or to investigate. Embezzlement is a "people" crime -- it's not just a document or technological crime. Every investigator looks for the offender's motive for committing the crime. The "motive" is the reason for the person's behavior. Understanding the motive then helps the investigator to understand why an event occurs -- and where to look for clues, evidence and more information.

The primary motives for a person to embezzle include:
* A need for money -- to support a lifestyle (e.g., drugs, alcohol, gaming or relationships);
* A need for money -- to support a family (e.g., food, shelter, medical care or education);
* Revenge -- for real or imagined wrongs (e.g., sexual, racial or religious harassment or sexual discrimination, or "cronyism"); and
* Excitement -- because it's a "game" (e.g., challenging, risky, thrilling or winning).

First published on BankersOnline.com 4/16/12

First published on 04/16/2012

Filed under: 

Search Topics