A study on victims'' characteristics and opputunities of rotating credit association fraud

• Main Authors: Chang,Yao-chung, 張耀中
• Other Authors: Jou, Susyan
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2003
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/25573558542283907897

碩士 === 國立臺北大學 === 犯罪學研究所 === 91 === Rotating credit association (RCAs) has been existed for a long time and never decreasing in Chinese society, but the literature in rotating credit association fraud was very little in the past 20 years. By surveying a random sample of 543 adults aged over 20 in Taiwan area, the present study attempts to explore the prevalence and seriousness of the victims of rotating credit association fraud. According to the routine activity theory and victimology theory, the study also aims to find out the differential causes between single-time victims and repeated victims. The study finds that: (1) 68% residents in Taiwan have joined the RCAs at least once in their life. The main characters of these joiners are female, and personal income less NT$50,000 per month. Saving money in the bank, buying stock and bonds are the most preferable ways of their financial management; (2) saving money, higher interest rate and building inter-personal bondings are the most possible reasons for them to join RCAs. RCAs with total 20~34 members and less than NT$20,000 monthly payment are most popular; (3) among those joiners, 24% have been victimized by the members or the head of RCAs at least once in their life. 15% of them are repeated victims. The most dangerous RCAs are among those with 20~29 members and NT$20,000 monthly payment. 80% victims didn’t get any compensate for their loss legally or informally, and most victims didn’t do anything about their loss at all. Interestedly, 70% of victims will join another RCA soon again; (4) As to the victims’ characteristics, males, persons who join two RCAs at the same time and each with over NT$20,000 monthly payment are more likely to be victims of RCA fraud; and finally (5) compared with victims with single-time victims, the repeated victims are more likely to join RCAs with more than 40 members; more acquaintant with members in RCAs and acknowledge the legal issue related to RCAs. Based on the findings, the study suggests the following prevention policies: (1) Don’t join more than two RCAs at the same time. Stay away from any RCAs with more than 30 members and NT$20,000 monthly payment; (2) All members’ information should be clearly listed on the book, if necessary, taking legal-proof-documents as insurance; (3) Educate the legal knowledge and alternative financial management skills to potential joiners, and encourage victims to take legal actions to stop being future repeated victims; (4) The civil law should revise accordingly. Furthermore, the law should impose the regulations and force more penalties to the fraud criminals. Key Words: rotating credit association, rotating credit association fraud, victimology, repeat victimization, economic crime