With corporate fraud on the rise, it’s crucial to ensure your business is protected in the modern age. Here’s some information on the ways that corporate fraud can operate, and how best to protect yourself.
Consider The Modern World
Arguably – in this modern, technological world – we know more about each other than ever before. However, the flipside to this is that there can be great difficulty verifying information or put simply – knowing what we can believe. We’re also in an age of unprecedented global mobility. These two factors in conjunction mean modern businesses – of all kinds, from sole trader to international corporation – face many challenges.
Internal Fraud
Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for businesses large and small to face the threat of internal corporate fraud – that is to say, fraud from within the organisation itself. The most common forms of this strand of corporate fraud include financial theft, data theft, or overall abuse of a position by an employee or group of employees.
It’s important to remember that by definition it is usually those in positions of trust who are able to commit fraud. A fraudulent individual usually requires some autonomy to be able to act in a fraudulent manner.
We also advise corporate clients concerned about potential internal fraud to be mindful of which employees or partners might be under increased pressure, which is often a major factor in pushing a predisposed individual towards any fraudulent activity. Of course, it’s good practice in general to be trying to alleviate pressure within your organisation where possible.
Background Checks
Background checks are part of essential risk assessment. Before signing important contracts, agreeing to high-stakes deals, or giving job offers, background checks can be both useful and reassuring – whether you have specific concerns, or are simply undertaking thorough due diligence.
As an employer it’s important to establish what it is you need to know before being happy to commit to any agreement of a business-sensitive nature. Read more on our background checking services
Discretion Is Key
At PDL, discretion is key in everything we do. However, the necessity for the utmost discretion is something we often have to remind corporate clients when they’re attempting to uncover and prosecute fraudulent individuals who pose a threat to their business.
In order for any fraudulent individual to be successfully prosecuted – and any assets recovered – it’s essential that evidence is gathered and fraudulent individuals are identified in the most professional and inconspicuous manner.
We are here to advise further on discretion and all other aspects of handling corporate fraud investigation. If you need our assistance, please feel free to contact us.
Ongoing Disputes
Disputes can vary in nature and magnitude, but they all can drain resources and impact upon your ability to manage business as usual. It’s important that any ongoing disputes – including legal issues, partnership disagreements, and so on – are handled professionally throughout, to bring matters to a satisfactory close.
Bespoke Solutions
Remember that every case requires a bespoke solution. Situations should be judged on the evidence, and solutions found with the protection of your business firmly in mind. We don’t give catch-all advice because we prefer to analyse the specifics of a case and deal with its details up-close. You may require data forensics, for example, or vehicle tracking. It might be surveillance, or background checking. The key is that the circumstances themselves indicate the best course of action.
Monitoring, Early Detection, and Process
We’ve worked on many corporate fraud cases in our history, and it has become apparent that by far the most effective way to prevent corporate fraud either from occurring, or from escalating or causing irreparable damage, relates to good monitoring, early detection, and establishing processes to handle any relevant cases.
Of course, what this specifically means is different from company to company, but what doesn’t change is that the first question we’ll ask an organisation concerned about preventing corporate fraud is – what process do you have in place to ensure good monitoring and early detection of any initial warning signs of impending fraud?
To discuss how we can help you prevent or resolve corporate fraud, please call us on:
+44(0)203 747 1865
