| Many businesses find themselves in an | | | | can also conduct background checks into |
| unfortunate position. They find that assets are | | | | employees' credit histories, judgments and liens, |
| missing, that the books have not been kept | | | | even federal and civil records to determine |
| accurately or that bribes have been taken. Other | | | | whether or not red flags are present. |
| businesses are learning from these mistakes and | | | | Often, a private investigator is called in to |
| are electing to perform a fraud investigation on | | | | perform a fraud investigation after fraud has |
| their own. | | | | been discovered. He or she will be hired by the |
| A fraud investigation might be conducted in order | | | | business to conduct full background searches on |
| to determine:whether or not there has been a | | | | all employees who may have been involved in |
| sale of assets that were either misrepresented or | | | | misrepresenting assets, making improper |
| fictitious;whether or not improper payments - | | | | payments, leaving items off the books or even |
| kickbacks, illegal political donations, bribes, or | | | | embezzling. |
| payoffs - have been made from within the | | | | In addition to a fraud investigation, a private |
| company;whether or not there has been some | | | | investigator is likely to work with the business' |
| sort of intentional misrepresentation or assets, | | | | executives to determine a plan for preventing |
| liabilities, transactions or income;whether or not | | | | fraud in the future. This may involve examining |
| there have been intentional pricing changes | | | | the policies and procedures that are currently in |
| created to benefit the business financially;whether | | | | place. It may also involve implementing surveillance |
| or not items have been deliberately left off the | | | | through cameras or by tracking programs installed |
| books; orwhether or not tax fraud has occurred. | | | | on office computers. |
| In some cases, a fraud investigation is conducted | | | | By creating a fraud prevention strategy and by |
| by an auditor from within the company - an | | | | conducting a fraud investigation, a private |
| auditor who oversees the financial departments. | | | | investigator can help to put your business back on |
| In other cases, a fraud investigation may be | | | | the right track. |
| conducted by external auditor, a financial analyst | | | | Perhaps your business has not always taken the |
| who is brought in for the purpose of reviewing | | | | time to conduct thorough background |
| the books. | | | | investigations of applicants before hiring. Perhaps |
| In other cases, a fraud investigation may be | | | | you are hoping that your business still has the |
| handled by a private investigator. A private | | | | opportunity to prevent fraud. Maybe you've been |
| investigator may be brought in to conduct a fraud | | | | unfortunate however and fraud has already taken |
| investigation to determine which asset was | | | | place. Regardless of your situation, a fraud |
| transferred improperly or to establish which | | | | investigation can help to ensure that you are fully |
| employee may have defrauded the organization. | | | | aware of what is taking place. |
| This can be done through deeper background | | | | When that fraud investigation is conducted by a |
| checks to determine whether there are | | | | private investigator, you can also take measures |
| employees who had access to the assets who | | | | to protect your business from future instances of |
| also have a criminal record. A private investigator | | | | fraud. |