Stop White-Collar Crime: Prevent Fraud in Your Business

By Charles Hall | Fraud

Dec 11

Chances are white-collar crime is occurring in your business as you read this–or at least within the last thirty days. Those you trust may be taking you for a ride. Therefore, you need to know how to prevent white-collar crime.

Below I provide you with plenty of free understandable resources to help you stop fraud. Take a look. 

white-collar crime

White Collar Crime Happens!

For most organizations, it’s not a matter of if fraud will occur, it’s a question of how much will be taken. The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners’ biennial survey shows that the average business loses 5% of its revenues to fraud. Imagine adding that amount to your bottom line, because when theft occurs, your net income is reduced by the amount stolen.

No One Steals from My Business

Most business owners, board members, governments, and nonprofits think “fraud may happen in other organizations, but not in our place. Our people are honest.” Well, let me say I’ve seen plenty of “honest” people steal.

In almost every fraud I’ve seen, the business owners and fellow employees are greatly surprised by the theft, usually by a trusted employee

And these trusted people steal because they can. You may be thinking, “What?” Let me repeat, the reason people steal is because they can. In fraud prevention parlance, we call it “opportunity.”

Fraud Cycle

And, how do trusted employees steal? Here’s the typical cycle:

  • We hire a likable, trustworthy person
  • The employee serves the organization well
  • He moves to higher positions (where he has greater opportunity to steal)
  • No one monitors the employee because he is honest–or at least, he appears that way
  • The employee believes he can steal without detection
  • Small amounts of money are taken to test the water
  • Larger amounts are taken when he is sure no one is watching

So, the employee goes from trusted employee to fraudster. The transformation occurs gradually. Then when the discovery of fraud occurs, everyone is shocked.

Examples of People Who Steal

And what kinds of persons commit white-collar crime?

I have seen the following individuals take money:

  • Chief executive officer
  • Board member
  • Pastor
  • Church secretary
  • Healthcare executive
  • A lady who was dying
  • Doctor
  • College president
  • Swim club volunteer
  • Seminary Foundation employee
  • School principal

I could go on, but you get my point. People who we think would never steal, do.

So, how can we prevent–or at least lessen–the threat of fraud? Transparency is a key.

Transparency Lessens Fraud

If transparency is important, why don’t businesses create it?

Small businesses often lack the ability to segregate accounting duties, and this lack of segregation creates opportunities for theft. Why? One employee controls several critical accounting processes, resulting in the ability to steal without detection.

To lessen the possibility of fraud, we must create transparency in accounting processes. Employees are less likely to steal when their actions are visible to others. That’s why segregation of duties is necessary: more eyes see the accounting activity, making theft more difficult to occur without detection. But even if an organization has few employees, it’s possible to create transparency and lessen the threat of theft

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Stop White-Collar Crime

CPA Hall Talk provides you with fraud prevention information to help you stop white-collar crime.

While I can’t visit everyone that needs fraud prevention assistance, I can provide (free) information about how theft occurs and how you can lessen the threat of fraud.

Here are some of my fraud prevention posts (each with a clickable link):

I hope you find these articles helpful in fighting white-collar crime in your organization. 

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The Little Book of Local Government Fraud Prevention

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About the Author

Charles Hall is a practicing CPA and Certified Fraud Examiner. For the last thirty-five years, he has primarily audited governments, nonprofits, and small businesses. He is the author of The Little Book of Local Government Fraud Prevention, The Why and How of Auditing, Audit Risk Assessment Made Easy, and Preparation of Financial Statements & Compilation Engagements. He frequently speaks at continuing education events. Charles consults with other CPA firms, assisting them with auditing and accounting issues.

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