What is a common financial motive for committing fraud?

Prepare for the ACFE Certified Fraud Examiner Exam. Access flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each with hints and explanations, to ace your exam! Get started today.

The common financial motive for committing fraud that stands out in this context is high personal expenses. Individuals facing financial difficulties or overwhelming personal debts may feel compelled to engage in fraudulent activities to alleviate their monetary problems. This can include actions such as embezzling funds from an employer, falsifying financial records, or manipulating financial reporting to obtain personal gain.

High personal expenses can result from various factors, such as lifestyle choices, medical emergencies, or other unforeseen expenditures that outpace a person's legitimate income. The pressure of these financial burdens can push someone toward committing fraud as a seemingly quicker solution to restore their financial stability.

Other options like a desire for adventure, social pressures from peers, and job dissatisfaction could contribute to fraudulent behavior but are less directly linked to the typical financial motive for fraud. The urge to engage in risk-taking for excitement or to fit in with peers may be seen in some cases of fraud, but they do not stem from financial need to the same extent. Similarly, job dissatisfaction can lead to rationalizations for unethical behavior but is not inherently a financial motive.

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