Forensics Journal - Stevenson University 2010 | Page 25

FORENSICS JOURNAL

psychopath to maintain. They are successful because they constantly
tailor their façade to their immediate targets, winning over their
targets’ trust through lies (Babiak, 2008, p. 1). The second main trait
is emotional poverty. Other than anger and frustration, psychopaths
lack empathy, sympathy or remorse. They refuse to accept responsibility for their own actions, and blame others for anything that
goes wrong. The closest they come to normal human emotions is by
mimicking them to manipulate their targets (Babiak, 2008, p. 1).
The third main trait characterizes the psychopath’s daily life, which is
irresponsible, impulsive, and lavish. Although their resumes are full
of successes and achievements, their real life is the complete opposite.
They are easily bored by details and often neglect important work. In
fact, they lack goals and do not extend themselves to achieve anything
of significance. They act without thinking of, or caring about, the
consequences of their actions on others. Although they are unwilling to achieve success on their own, they are more than willing to
take credit for someone else’s (Babiak, 2008, p. 2). The final main
trait of psychopaths is a history of antisocial behavior, including
fraud in adulthood. This antisocial behavior is often the result of the
interaction and culmination of the other main traits of psychopaths.
Their emotional poverty and impulsive life create a belief system
that enables them to take what they want, when they want, without
remorse, guilt or fear, leading to a life of crime (Babiak, 2008, p. 2).

JUSTICE FOR SOME BUT NOT FOR ALL
A common complaint heard from those who investigate fraud is that
there is not enough done to punish occupational fraud and other
white-collar offenders. According to the ACFE’s 2006 Report to the
Nation on Occupational Fraud and Abuse, the most common employment action taken against alleged offenders was termination, followed
by restitution. While nearly three-quarters of the cases surveyed were
reported to the police, frauds with lower median losses were less likely
to be reported. Of the cases that were prosecuted, the most common
result was a “guilty” or “no contest” plea. Even withstanding prosecution, the main goal of an organization which has become a victim of
fraud is to seek restitution. Unfortunately, nearly half never see a dime
(Wells, 2008, pp. 40-44).
Regardless of what surveys tell us, an expectation gap exists between
what the public feels is justic