Final answer:
The most important element in successful fraud schemes is Confidence in the perpetrator.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most important element in successful fraud schemes is Confidence in the perpetrator. This is because the perpetrator needs to gain the trust and confidence of the victims in order to carry out the fraud successfully. Without the victims having confidence in the perpetrator, they would not be willing to participate or fall for the scheme.
For example, a common fraud scheme is a Ponzi scheme where the perpetrator promises high returns on investments. The success of the scheme relies heavily on the confidence that the victims have in the perpetrator's ability to deliver on these promised benefits.
While factors such as complexity, profitable activities, and promised benefits can also play a role in fraud schemes, they are not as essential as confidence in the perpetrator. Complexity may help in disguising the fraud, profitable activities can attract victims, and promised benefits can entice them, but without the trust and confidence in the perpetrator, the scheme would likely not be successful.