Impeding the Investigation of Fraud at the Final Stage: Criminalistic Aspects

The authors examine key methods of impeding the investigation used by the participants of criminal proceedings at the final stage of investigating fraud. The analysis of theoretical publications dedicated to the investigation of fraud showed that counteraction to the investigation is at its highest at the final stage. However, this stage is the least researched one, and thus it is of scientific interest. Highly intellectual fraud schemes, the use of modern technologies determine new ways of investigating these crimes and the unwillingness of criminals to be punished. Using the materials of investigative and court practice as well as the results obtained by other researchers, the authors specify the forms of counteraction at the final stage of fraud and offer the most effective ways of overcoming them. It is important for an investigator to analyze the behavior of criminal proceedings’ participants and, by the final stage, to predict the possible scenarios of impeding the investigation. The authors stress a systemic approach to solving the problems, and a necessity of cooperation with operative divisions so that the opportunities presented by the operative search activities could be used to overcome the counteraction to fraud investigation.