''I don't think committing fraud is human nature. Maybe it's...

''I don't think committing fraud is human nature.
Maybe it's just an Australian thing,''

the evidence suggests that fraud is not a simple thing and certainly not purely nature

when one thinks of Austalia - it's impossible to overlook how modern Australia began - as a dumping ground for social outcasts from an Empire based on the opposite side of the planet ----- dumped and allowed to freely breed on a big island. What can one realistically expect from such an experiment?
It should be noted that people who were abandoned in Australia (transported) - were done so by the actions of 'authorities'

What kind of feelings and attitudes would they have had to 'authority' and what emotions and culture would they have passed down in nurture to their children in their attitude to 'authority' ---------

Fraud appears to be a complex behavior influenced by both innate human tendencies and social learning, rather than being purely human nature or entirely socially learned. Here's a synthesis of the key points:
1. Evolutionary perspective:
Deception and lying are considered natural phenomena widespread among both human and non-human species[2]. Our brains may have evolved to enable complex social interactions, including deception and suspicion[2]. This suggests some innate capacity for fraudulent behavior.
2. Psychological factors:
Several psychological traits and processes contribute to fraudulent behavior, including:
- Self-deception, which can help individuals believe their own lies[2]
- Cognitive dissonance, leading to escalation of fraudulent activities[3]
- Personality traits like Machiavellianism[3]
- Rationalization strategies to justify fraudulent actions[3]
3. Social influences:
Social dynamics play a significant role in shaping fraudulent behavior:
- Groupthink, peer pressure, and desire to fit in can lead individuals to engage in fraud[3]
- Organizational culture that tolerates or encourages fraudulent behavior can influence employees[3]
- Social influence and the effect of others' opinions and behaviors impact one's actions[3]
4. Learned behavior:
The development of language and complex social structures has expanded the potential for deception and manipulation[2]. This suggests that while the capacity for fraud may be innate, specific fraudulent behaviors are often learned and shaped by social contexts.
5. Multifaceted nature:
Research indicates that employee fraud motives are complex and multidimensional, involving attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control[4]. This supports the idea that fraud is not simply innate or learned, but a result of various interacting factors.
In conclusion, while humans may have an innate capacity for deception rooted in our evolutionary history, the specific manifestations of fraud appear to be significantly influenced by social learning, psychological factors, and environmental conditions. Fraud is best understood as a complex behavior arising from the interaction between innate human tendencies and socially learned characteristics, rather than being exclusively one or the other.

[1] https://www.fraud-magazine.com/article.aspx?id=404
[2] https://bioneers.org/the-sting-the-role-of-fraud-in-nature-zmbz2111/
[3] https://fastercapital.com/topics/the-psychology-behind-fraudulent-behavior.html
[4] https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1026519/full
[5] https://www.researchgate.net/public...tional_Characteristics_into_Behavioral_Ethics