Reducing computer fraud through situational crime prevention

Abstract

Although computer fraud continues to be a thorn in the side of many organizations, fresh perspectives to addressing this type of crime are rare. This paper advances a preventive approach which reduces those criminal opportunities that permit computer fraud to take place. The construction of crime specific opportunity structures, which enable the relevant parties to conceptualize the fraud environment, is advocated. This aids and promotes an inter-departmental preventive effort, so vital to combating and containing fraud.