CONSUMER PROTECTION - RESPONSIVENESS OF CONTROL AGENTS TO VICTIMS OF FRAUD

• NCJ Number: 54222
• Journal: Victimology Volume: 3 Issue: 1-2 Dated: (1978) Pages: 63-76
• Author(s): K W JOHNSON; R A TAMBERRINO; A A MARSHALL; A A MOYER
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 14 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: University of Maryland
• Corporate Author: Visage Press, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE IMPRESSIONS OF VICTIMS OF CONSUMER FRAUD WHO BROUGHT COMPLAINTS TO A SPECIAL CONSUMER/COMMERCIAL FRAUD UNIT HOUSED IN THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OF PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD., ARE ANALYZED.

Abstract

SPECIAL CONSUMER FRAUD UNITS IN STATE AND LOCAL PROSECUTORS' OFFICES HAVE BEEN CREATED IN RESPONSE TO RECOGNIZED DEFICIENCIES IN THE CLASS ACTION SUIT AS A PRINCIPAL RECOURSE. THE PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY UNIT, STAFFED BY A FULL-TIME INVESTIGATOR AND A PART-TIME PROSECUTOR, EMPHASIZES INTRINSIC COMPENSATION FOR VICTIMS (FREQUENT CONTACT WITH VICTIMS, APPROPRIATE DEMEANOR ON THE PART OF THE INVESTIGATOR, PROVISION OF CRIME PREVENTION TIPS, NOTIFICATION OF CASE DISPOSITION). TO DETERMINE THE RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF INTRINSIC COMPENSATION AND EXTRINSIC COMPENSATION (RESTITUTION) IN INFLUENCING VICTIMS' ATTITUDES TOWARD THE UNIT, INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED WITH 54 OF THE 109 VICTIMS WHO FILED COMPLAINTS WITH THE UNIT OVER A 20-MONTH PERIOD. BEING INFORMED BY THE UNIT OF THE FINAL CASE DISPOSITION EMERGED AS THE MOST IMPORTANT DETERMINANT OF THE VICTIM'S PERCEPTION OF THE UNIT. OTHER IMPORTANT INFLUENCES WERE THE INVESTIGATOR'S DISPLAY OF CONCERN AND UNDERSTANDING, AND THE EXTENT OF THE VICTIM'S CONTACT WITH THE UNIT. WHETHER THE VICTIM RECEIVED RESTITUTION WAS NOT AS SIGNIFICANT AS SPECIFIC INTRINSIC COMPENSATION FACTORS IN DETERMINING THE VICTIM'S OPINION OF THE UNIT. VICTIMS' WILLINGNESS TO COOPERATE IN FUTURE EFFORTS TO CONTROL FRAUD WAS SIGNIFICANTLY RELATED TO NEITHER INTRINSIC NOR EXTRINSIC COMPENSATION FACTORS. HOWEVER, VICTIMS WHO REPORTED SOME FEAR OF REPRISAL AND WHO HAD MININAL OR MODERATE CONTACT WITH THE UNIT ALSO INDICATED LESS WILLINGNESS TO REPORT AND PROSECUTE FUTURE FRAUD CASES THAN DID OTHER VICTIMS. IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS ARE DISCUSSED, WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE IMPORTANCE OF INTERPERSONAL AS WELL AS INVESTIGATIVE SKILLS ON THE PART OF CONSUMER FRAUD UNIT STAFF. SUPPORTING DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED.