It is still debatable whether Bernard Madoff fits the profile of a classic scammer. Anti-Semites blame his ancestry, the society and culture he grew in:

http://www.narcissistic-abuse.com/jews.html

To understand his psychology, you may wish to start by reading this short story I have written. It tackles in minute detail the psychodynamic processes in a con-man's mind as well as the curious bond that inevitably forms between perpetrator and victim

http://www.narcissistic-abuse.com/conman-en.html

Madoff is, in all likelihood, a psychopathic narcissist:

For a more detailed view of pathological narcissism and the Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) - click on these links:

http://malignantselflove.tripod.com/npdglance.html

http://samvak.tripod.com/personalitydisorders12.html

http://samvak.tripod.com/personalitydisorders13.html

http://samvak.tripod.com/personalitydisorders14.html

http://malignantselflove.tripod.com/narcissismglance.html

NPD (Narcissistic Personality Disorder) and AsPD (Antisocial Personality Disorder, Psychopathy, or Sociopathy)

http://samvak.tripod.com/personalitydisorders16.html

http://samvak.tripod.com/personalitydisorders15.html

Is Madoff malicious?

http://www.narcissistic-abuse.com/journal65.html

He feels immune to the consequences of his actions and reinterprets his crimes to fit an ego-syntonic narrative:

http://www.narcissistic-abuse.com/faq57.html

http://www.narcissistic-abuse.com/faq45.html

The Narcissist and Psychopath as Criminals

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/narcissisticabuse/message/5003

The Narcissist is Above the Law

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/narcissisticabuse/message/4983

The Narcissist as Liar and Con-man

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/narcissisticabuse/message/4951

Does the Narcissist Have a Multiple Personality (Dissociative Identity Disorder)?

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/narcissisticabuse/message/4950

Grandiosity, Fantasies, and Narcissism

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/narcissisticabuse/message/4923

He feels no remorse

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/narcissisticabuse/message/4931

He blames his victims (or the Universe) for the mess (he has alloplastic defenses)

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/narcissisticabuse/message/5002

He loves the attention

http://www.narcissistic-abuse.com/corporatenarcissism.html

You can download my book about financial crime here:

http://www.narcissistic-abuse.com/freebooks.html