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Changing Nature of Fraud in Canada

NCJ Number
173098
Author(s)
D E Janhevich
Date Published
1998
Length
15 pages
Annotation
In 1996, approximately 101,000 fraud cases in Canada were reported by the police, accounting for 7 percent of all property crimes; the total number of fraud cases represented a rate of 337 per 100,000 population, the lowest rate in 20 years.
Abstract
Credit card fraud and other types of fraud increased substantially between 1977 and 1986. Despite yearly fluctuations, fraud rates increased only slightly between 1987 and 1996. Credit card fraud rates, however, increased significantly between 1994 and 1996. Saskatchewan reported the highest provincial/territorial fraud rate for the fifth consecutive year in 1996, 540 per 100,000 population. Quebec, Newfoundland, Ontario, and the Northwest Territories recorded fraud rates below the national average of 337 per 100,000 population. Compared to most property crimes, fraud cases were more likely to be solved by the police. In 1996, 63 percent of fraud offenses were solved by the police. Other clearance rates were 16 percent for break and enter, 12 percent for motor vehicle theft, 18 percent for theft over $5,000, and 20 percent for theft $5,000 and under. Persons accused of fraud offenses were generally older than those accused of other property crimes. The median age of those accused of fraud was 29 years, compared to a median age of 21 years for other property offenders. Probation was the most common sentence for fraud offenses. The median length of a probation sentence was 450 days, while the median length for a prison term was 60 days and the median fine amount was $200. Fraud incidents were aimed against a commercial enterprise in 53 percent of cases known to the police and against a bank or a financial institution in a further 28 percent of cases. 20 references, 7 tables, and 5 figures