Which of the following is NOT a key characteristic of occupational fraud?

The characteristic that is not associated with occupational fraud is that it is conducted openly. Occupational fraud typically involves deceit and concealment; the primary aspect of this type of fraud is that it is carried out in secret or in a manner that avoids detection. Fraudsters are aware that their actions are illegal and unethical, which drives them to hide their activities from others in the organization.

In contrast, the other characteristics accurately describe occupational fraud. It is clandestine, meaning it is done in secret to evade discovery. It also violates fiduciary duties, as individuals committing occupational fraud are breaching their responsibilities to act in the best interest of their employer. Additionally, this type of fraud is aimed at achieving financial benefit for the employee at the expense of the organization, which is a core motivation behind these dishonest actions.