A critical analysis of donald cressey's fraud triangle:

limitations and applications in the context of corporate crime

Views: 2

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14889490

Keywords:

Fraud Triangle, Donald Cressey, Corporate Fraud

Abstract

This article provides a critical analysis of Donald Cressey's Fraud Triangle, proposed in 1953, and its application in the contemporary context of corporate fraud. The original model, emphasizing the dimensions of pressure, opportunity, and rationalization, is revisited in light of new organizational dynamics, technological advancements, and regulatory changes. The limitations of the Fraud Triangle, such as its simplicity in addressing complex frauds, are discussed, and adjustments are proposed based on more recent theories like the Fraud Diamond. The conclusion is that, while useful, Cressey's model needs to be adapted to tackle the challenges of modern fraud.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

Raphael Boldt, Faculdade de Direito de Vitória, FDV, Brasil

Pós-Doutorado em Direito Penal pela Goethe-Universität (Frankfurt am Main) e em Criminologia pela Universität Hamburg (ambos com bolsa DAAD). Doutor e Mestre em Direitos e Garantias Fundamentais pela Faculdade de Direito de Vitória (FDV). Estágio doutoral na Johann Wolfgang-Goethe Universität/Frankfurt am Main. Pesquisador visitante junto ao Instituto Max-Planck de História do Direito Europeu. Líder do Grupo de Pesquisa CNPq Sistema Penal e Segurança Pública (FDV). Professor nos cursos de Graduação e Pós-Graduação (Mestrado e Doutorado) da FDV. Advogado criminalista.

References

Becker, G. S. Crime and Punishment: An Economic Approach. Journal of Political Economy, 76, 1969, 169-217.

Blickle, G., Schlegel, A., Fassbender, P., & Klein, U. Some Personality Correlates of Business White-Collar Crime. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 55(2), 2006, 220-233.

Brazel, J. F., Jones, K. L., & Zimbelman, M. F. Using Nonfinancial Measures to Assess Fraud Risk. Journal of Accounting Research, 47(5), 2009, 1135-1166.

Cressey, D. R. Other People's Money: A Study in the Social Psychology of Embezzlement. Glencoe, IL: Free Press, 1953.

Lou, Y., & Wang, W. Fraud Detection in Corporate Audits. Journal of Auditing Studies, 14(3), 2009, 198-211.

Wang, S., Winton, A., & Yu, X. Corporate Fraud and Fraud Detection. Journal of Financial Studies, 23(4), 2010, 879-912.

Wolfe, D. T., & Hermanson, D. R. The Fraud Diamond: Considering the Four Elements of Fraud. CPA Journal, 74(12), 2004, 38-42.

Downloads

Published

2025-02-28

How to Cite

Boldt, R. (2025). A critical analysis of donald cressey’s fraud triangle: : limitations and applications in the context of corporate crime. Boletim IBCCRIM, 33(388), 5–8. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14889490

Issue

Vol. 33 No. 388 (2025): Boletim IBCCRIM - Março

Section

Direito Penal

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Prof. Dr. Raphael Boldt

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Copyright of published articles belongs to the author, but with journal rights over the first publication and respecting the one-year exclusivity period. Authors may only use the same results in other publications by clearly indicating this journal as the medium of the original publication. If there is no such indication, it will be considered a situation of self-plagiarism.

Therefore, the reproduction, total or partial, of the articles published here is subject to the express mention of the origin of its publication in this journal, citing the volume and number of this publication. For legal purposes, the source of the original publication must be consigned, in addition to the DOI link for cross-reference (if any).