Internal fraud drains approximately $3.6 billion dollars annually from global businesses, according to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). According to ACFE's latest Report to the Nations, the median internal fraud loss in manufacturing and production companies is $177,000.
Who is Involved? Here are some important statistics to consider about the perpetrators of fraud schemes:
-- Source: 2022 Report from the Assn. of Certified Fraud Examiners Examine Workplace Environment One important factor in whether or not employees steal is their attitudes. Employees who feel they are treated fairly by their company are less likely to commit fraud. Many offenses are committed by people who hold grudges and are looking for revenge. |
Although companies can experience pilferage from customers, vendors and other sources, employees account for the highest losses, when taking into account offenses such as fraudulent insurance claims, unauthorized time off and theft of proprietary information. Crimes can be as simple as stealing company supplies or as complex as sophisticated financial statement fraud.
More specifically, fraud by managers and key executives generates the highest dollar losses because these employees are in a have access to assets and financial records. This provides the opportunity to falsify financial, credential, work-related or test-related documents for personal gain.
What can your company do to prevent theft? The ACFE report found these measures to be effective:
1. Improve internal controls. A strong system of internal controls is your company's first line of defense against fraud. For example, don't allow the same employee to keep books, collect funds, write checks and reconcile bank accounts. Likewise, arrange for monthly bank statements to be delivered unopened to the company owner, who should review them for unusual transactions, such as declining deposits and checks to unfamiliar parties.
2. Conduct background checks. Before new employees start working for your company, it's important to review their criminal and credit history, prior employment and education. You also may want to consider verifying references and checking out social media accounts. A comprehensive background check is especially relevant if the worker will routinely handle cash or have access to your company's financial records and other sensitive company or employee data.
3. Arrange for fraud audits. Your company's outside accountants or an internal audit department should conduct regular independent internal control studies of cash accounts, bank statements and other items to detect criminal activity. Surprise audits are an effective, yet underutilized, tool in the fight against fraud.
4. Be willing to prosecute perpetrators. Some organizations take no legal action, because management is afraid of bad publicity, has reached a private settlement, wants closure or considers internal punishment sufficient. Failure to prosecute allows fraudsters to move on to other companies and repeat the same crimes.
5. Provide ethics training for employees. Educate staff members about the possible sources of fraud and consequences, such as the loss of jobs, raises and profits.
6. Institute anonymous fraud reporting mechanisms. Fraud is commonly discovered through tips from employees, vendors, customers or other sources reported through phone, email or online hotlines. These people are frequently in a position to see violations of company policies or excessive personal spending by colleagues.
7. Install workplace surveillance devices. Today, there are many inexpensive surveillance devices available in the marketplace. For example, you might install a video camera to monitor a loading dock where theft is suspected. Or you might install a lock on the door to the parts room that requires employees to scan their badges to gain access — this gives management a record of who's been in the storage room and when.
8. Look for behavioral red flags. Examples may include the perpetrator living beyond his or her means, having financial or person difficulties (such as a divorce or an addiction), expressing an unwillingness to share duties or take vacations, and engaging in an unusually close association with vendors or customers.
Adopt a Zero-Tolerance Policy
With a few basic procedures in place, internal business theft can be significantly reduced — or even eliminated — so your manufacturing business can flourish. The keys are to have adequate checks and balances in place, to stay on top of the latest fraud schemes, and to be consistent and swift in investigating and prosecuting suspicious activity. Ask your CPA for more information.