Abstract

The study examines the psychology and sociology of a fraudster and their implications for the accounting profession today. The investigation was guided by three questions and a hypothesis. The study employed a survey research approach, and the 274 auditing businesses in Nigeria's South-South geopolitical zone comprised the study's population. The Taro Yamane was used to determine the sample of the study, and Spearman rank correlation was used to analyze the data. Results from the research reveal that there was a correlation in capability (r = 0.121, p< 0.05), lifestyle (r= 0.561 p< 0.05 and environment(r= 0.108 p< 0.05) and the psycho-social behaviour of the perpetrator of fraud. The implication was that the professional auditors should apply professional skepticism and exercising due care in engaging their work for better delivery and discharge of their duties, as this will lead to the detection of fraud and the reporting of red flags that are of material misstatements. The study recommended that an active, strong, and proper supervision of the internal control system would seriously check the actions of fraudulent activities.