The Financial Fraud Research Center is initiating a survey research project (to be conducted by Applied Research & Consulting, LLC) that assesses whether, and to what extent, modifications to survey design and context will affect self-reported rates of individual fraud victimization.

Self-report surveys are among the primary sources of prevalence data regarding fraud victimization in the United States. It is documented in other domains that changes in survey and questionnaire design have effects on responses, especially of socially sensitive behavior. It is therefore extremely important to understand if, and how, survey context may affect obtained rates of fraud victimization.

We aim to have top-line results by the end of the year, and more detailed analyses in the following months.