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Capability

Definition

In the fraud diamond, the personal attributes that allow an individual to execute a fraud: seniority and authority, knowledge of controls and how to circumvent them, cognitive ability to plan a complex scheme, and the psychological resilience to sustain deception under scrutiny.

Related terms

Arrogance
In the Pentagon model, the belief that normal rules do not apply to oneself. Arrogance replaces or bypasses rationalisation: the perpetrator does...
Behavioural red flag
An observable action or pattern that suggests elevated fraud risk by signalling pressure, rationalisation, arrogance, or capability. Examples include living beyond apparent...
Fraud diamond
Wolfe and Hermanson's 2004 extension of the fraud triangle that adds capability as a fourth condition. The model holds that pressure, opportunity,...
MICE model
A motivational taxonomy derived from counterintelligence practice: Money (financial gain or need), Ideology (loyalty, grievance, or belief), Coercion (external pressure or blackmail),...
Pentagon model
An extension of the fraud diamond by Jonathan Marks (2011) that adds arrogance as a fifth element, describing individuals so confident in...

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