If your company is tired of being a fraud target, it is time to train employees how to recognize and uncover unscrupulous activities — before irreparable damage is done. Here is how.

Enlist an expert

A forensic accountant can conduct on-site, broad-based training for employees in the form of live presentations. This expert might use role-playing to help staff understand the various forms fraud can take and how perpetrators think and identify their victims’ vulnerabilities and weaknesses.

Specific antifraud education can be provided based on employees’ departments and positions.

For example, warehouse workers might be trained to spot shipping and receiving scams. Managers might learn how to verify expense reimbursement requests and documentation.

Hot topics

Some of the topics that might be covered in an employee fraud presentation include:

Payroll theft. This comes in many forms, including paying phantom employees; manipulating time records; making and accepting unapproved pay rate adjustments; creating and accepting extra bonus or payroll checks; and committing W-2 or withholding fraud. To beat thieves, managers and employees working with payroll need to observe internal financial controls, such as keeping a close eye on payroll-related records.

Cyberfraud. Almost nothing employees do poses a greater fraud risk than using computers and mobile devices. Phishing, social engineering, and other techniques are designed to trick them into revealing company, customer, and other confidential data or providing access to your network. They need to learn how to keep information safe by handling email carefully, changing passwords often and updating security software when required.

Loan scams. Thieves call businesses offering loans at low interest rates, often asking for an upfront ‘processing’ or ‘application’ fee. Legitimate lenders, however, do not require payment in advance of approving loans. Fraud experts educate employees to check lenders’ validity and get loan terms in writing — including the payment schedule and interest rate — before signing documents.

Fraudulent charitable solicitations. If businesses are not careful, charitable donations they think they are making to the police or fire department or other worthy causes may end up in someone else’s pocket. Employees can be taught to check with charity watchdog organizations and the IRS to ensure an organization is valid and tax-exempt.

Tailored presentation

Your business can avoid a lot of headaches and protect your bottom lines by calling a forensic accounting expert to provide antifraud training. Contact us to discuss your specific employee training needs.