Fraud has evolved significantly over the years, adapting to technological advancements and changes in society. It has become increasingly sophisticated, often using psychological manipulation, enabled by information and communications technologies (ICTs). The high volume and severity of fraud pose a significant risk to people, economies and prosperity worldwide, and have a negative impact on the public’s confidence in the rule of law.
The anonymity and remoteness often associated with fraud perpetration conceal the identities of offenders from both victims and authorities, hindering efforts to assess underlying patterns, factors of vulnerability and associated risks.
The role of organized crime can vary depending on the type of fraud, although, to a greater or lesser extent, it has a footprint in nearly all types of fraud.
Fraud encompasses offenders ranging from opportunistic individuals who make moderate financial gains to highly motivated and organized criminals who go to great lengths to orchestrate fraud to make staggering levels of criminal profit.
The international community has recognized the evolving and growing threat of organized fraud carried out on a massive scale throughout the world in resolution 12/2 entitled “Implementation of the provisions on technical assistance of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime", which contains a set of recommendations on organized fraud.
In efforts to remedy this, the UNODC Global Programme on Implementing the Organized Crime Convention has developed an Issue Paper on Organized Fraud and continues to support States in preventing and combating organized fraud through four main pillars, focusing on (1) Tools Development, (2) Capacity Building, (3) Education and Advocacy and (4) Knowledge Management.
We appreciate your interest in the Global Programme on Implementing the Organized Crime Convention. For further information, contact us.
