Choose your fraud fighter

What's happening Fraud Fighters?

Maybe I should stop generalizing all fraud fighters. Have you ever taken a step back and thought about what kind of fraud fighter you are?

Fraud fighters come in different flavors, each with their own unique style and approach. And you know what? It's pretty fascinating to observe how different their methods can be.

Let's investigate further.

Read Time: ~4.11 Minutes

Understanding Your Fraud Fighter

Your why is your purpose, your motivation, the heart of what gets you out of bed to take on fraudsters every day.

When you know your why, you've got your own guiding North Star to steer by when the work gets rough (and we know it will). Your why reminds you of the bigger picture and why you stay in this fight.

Your why shapes how you approach things and the choices you make. It keeps you locked on target when distractions come flying in.

Most importantly, your why is the fire that fuels your passion and fulfillment as a fraud fighter.

Understanding the reason behind your passion allows you to direct your energy and enthusiasm effectively. Even though this work is challenging, remembering your underlying purpose helps you maintain your commitment through ups and downs.

Where do you even start by trying to figure out what your ‘why’ is?

Well…

Start by thinking about what drives you. Your motivations provide clues to your inner fraud-fighting persona. Conducting a self-assessment to determine what type of fraud fighter you are can be an enlightening process.

Here are some steps to guide you and what you'll need:

• A notebook to record your reflections

• Time for self-analysis

• Input from teammates who know your work style

Step 1: Examine your core motivations

Reflect on what drives you as a fraud fighter. Do you value justice, analysis, problem solving, protecting people, uncovering the truth, etc? Your motivations provide clues to your archetype.

Step 2: Evaluate your working style

Consider how you approach tasks and challenges. Are you more creative, precise, independent, relentless, strategic, questioning? Your work preferences point to your type.

Step 3: Assess your interactions with others

How do you communicate and connect with colleagues and clients? Can you easily read behaviors? Do you focus on safeguarding others? Your interactions reveal much about your style.

Step 4: Identify your strengths and weaknesses

What are you naturally good at and what requires more focus? Are you perceptive? Analytical? Empathetic? Strategic? Understanding this helps determine your fit.

Step 5: Seek feedback

Ask colleagues for insights into your work style, strengths and weaknesses. They may provide perspective you lack.

Step 6: Take relevant assessments

Personality and career assessments can provide additional clarity on your characteristics.

Choosing Your Fraud Fighter

Who else is just here to figure out what type of fraud fighter they are?

The Virtuoso

Wildly creative thinker. Approaches cases from unorthodox angles and identifies complex connections that crack cases wide open.

Strengths

• Ability to approach problems from multiple perspectives and generate unique solutions.

• Their creative thinking can result in innovative fraud detection and prevention strategies.

Weaknesses

• Their abstract methods could have colleagues thinking they're decoding hieroglyphics.

• They may treat a simple fraud case like it's a quantum physics problem.

The Scientist

Relies on data-driven analysis to pinpoint anomalies and patterns indicative of fraud. Precise and quantitative in their approach.

Strengths

• Their precise, data-driven approach can yield highly accurate results.

• They're likely to stay up-to-date on new analytical tools and techniques.

Weaknesses

• So data-driven they might overlook the 'human' in 'human fraud'.

• May freeze in terror at the mere thought of unquantifiable variables in an investigation.

The Architect

Builds an intricate blueprint of strategy from fragments of data to reconstruct and protect what happened.

Strengths

• Their holistic approach ensures all factors are considered in an investigation.

• They can create comprehensive strategies that are thorough and meticulous.

Weaknesses

• Spends time building blueprints of how all the fraud tools can work together.

• Without enough data, they might be as lost as a tourist without a map.

The Protector

Strong moral compass drives them to shield the vulnerable from exploitative crimes. Passionate about justice and supporting victims.

Strengths

• Their moral compass and passion for justice can be highly motivating.

• They may go above and beyond to support victims and ensure justice is served.

Weaknesses

• Emotions might cloud their judgement faster than a foggy morning.

• Sees themselves as apart of the Avengers even though their scene got cut from the movie.

The Detective

Observant and insightful, picks up on subtle clues others miss. Uses logic and strategic questioning to unravel schemes. The classic meticulous investigator.

Strengths

• Their keen observational skills and logical thinking can unearth hidden information.

• Their strategic questioning can help them gather information efficiently.

Weaknesses

• Often can be found on page 20 of a Google search.

• Frequently talking to pictures of suspects, hoping they'll crack under the pressure.

The Lone Wolf

Prefers working solo with minimal oversight. Independent and self-motivated. Does their best work alone.

Strengths

• Their independence allows them to work efficiently and without distraction.

• They're self-motivated and can take initiative.

Weaknesses

• Collaboration is as enjoyable to them as a root canal.

• Often spotted in their natural habitat, a secluded corner of the office, fiercely guarding their coffee.

The Bloodhound

Intense focus and persistence when trailing a hot red flag. Won't let up once they latch onto evidence.

Strengths

• Their persistence can help them solve complex or long-term cases.

• They won't be easily discouraged by obstacles or challenges.

Weaknesses

• Struggle to let go of unresolved cases like a dog with their fav chew toy.

• Typically found hunched over an escalated case from their first day, muttering "I'm close, I can feel it."

The Psychologist

High emotional intelligence allows them to decipher behaviors and micro-expressions. Reads between the lines and identifies deceit.

Strengths

• Their high emotional intelligence can help them understand human motivations and behaviors.

• They're adept at recognizing deception, which is valuable in fraud investigations.

Weaknesses

• They might rely too heavily on their interpretation of behaviors, creating a plot where there isn't one.

• They could get carried away reading between lines, leading to a masterpiece of imagination rather than fact.

Knowing your archetype provides insight into not just what you do best, but also who you are at your core and why you approach things in a certain manner.

Playing to Your Fraud Fighter

Lean into what you naturally do best. If you're the creative type, brainstorm solutions from new angles. If you're all about the data, use your analytical skills to get clear insights.

When a situation fits your abilities, take the lead and own it. But also acknowledge where you're weaker and take steps to balance it out.

A little self-awareness goes a long way.

Knowing your own style helps you connect better with other fraud fighters. Appreciate that your teammates have different strengths - learn from them!

Understanding each other breeds respect. You get why someone works the way they do, and can appreciate their unique style. Communications improve, conflicts decrease.

It's a win-win.

Diverse perspectives lead to balanced decisions. The data lovers balance the intuitives.

Mixing archetypes also enables adaptive problem solving. Creative thinkers, relentless workers, keen investigators - you attack from all sides.

Analyticals help imaginatives get more data-driven.

Lone wolves get collaboration tips from team players.

Now it’s time to figure out which fraud fighter archetype you are. Let me know once you find out.

See you again next Friday in your inbox.

​Brian