(Andrea is leading the fraud risk assessment process for her organization.

The Fraud Risk Assessment chapter explains that one of the most important concepts in conducting an effective fraud risk assessment is learning to think like a fraudster. The manual states that team members should set aside assumptions that fraud could not occur and instead consider how misconduct might actually be committed and concealed within the organization. This perspective helps identify realistic fraud schemes, opportunities, methods of concealment, and potential override risks. The manual does not say that management’s influence should be minimized in all respects, nor does it require that an outside consultant must always conduct the assessment. Rather, it stresses objectivity, proper team selection, and a willingness to consider fraud risks honestly. Therefore, the most accurate choice is that conducting an effective fraud risk assessment requires thinking like a fraudster.