Fraud Auditing, Detection, and Prevention Blog

Establishing Principles to Make Audit the #1 One Reason for Fraud Detection

May 10, 2023 8:11:18 AM / by Leonard W. Vona posted in Fraud Auditing, Fraud Detection, ...

This is the third blog looking at the state of the auditing profession. In the first blog, we looked at what has changed as companies have grown and gone global. Last month we considered the use of words and the significance of precision. And in this blog, we'll delve into principles that form the bases for our work.

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Examining the Words the Audit Profession Uses to Describe Responsibilities

Apr 19, 2023 5:17:13 PM / by Leonard W. Vona posted in Fraud Data Analytics, Fraud Auditing, ...

This is the second of three blogs looking at the state of the auditing profession. In the first blog, we looked at what has changed as companies have grown and gone global. In this article, we’re considering the use of words and the significance of precision.

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The State of the Auditing Profession in 2023 - Part 1

Mar 20, 2023 5:08:11 PM / by Leonard W. Vona posted in forensic accounting, Fraud Auditing, ...

As business systems have grown more complex and moved into a digital world, they’ve created more opportunities not only for fraud but also for uncovering fraud. It is my contention that auditing should be the number one reason for exposing fraud. And that requires a shift in mindset as well as the right techniques.

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Fraud Audit Lessons from the Corporate Transparency Act

Feb 13, 2023 7:45:00 AM / by Leonard W. Vona posted in Fraud Auditing, Fraud Triangle ...

Throughout my blogs, I have stressed the importance of knowledge. For this month’s blog, I am sharing what I believe to be valuable information as you think through your company's fraud prevention and detection policies. We will be taking a look at the recently approved Corporate Transparency Act.  I would strongly suggest that you educate yourself and then determine if your company’s policies and internal controls need to be updated.

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How to Use Fraud Risk Statements in a Fraud Detection Program

Jan 30, 2023 7:04:28 AM / by Leonard W. Vona posted in Fraud Data Analytics, Fraud Risk Statements, ...



We looked at how to create fraud risk statements using the payroll function in the last blog. In this blog, we’ll look at how to apply the fraud risk statement in a fraud audit program.

But first, the Trivia answers:

Was Christmas ever illegal?

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Illustrating Fraud Action Statements Using the Payroll Function

Dec 16, 2022 7:39:28 AM / by Leonard W. Vona posted in Fraud Risk Statements, Fraud Auditing, ...

 

In this blog, we're looking at how to write a fraud action statement using the payroll function as a way to understand the starting process for a fraud audit.

But first, here are the answers for the trivia from the last blog:

1. What was the biggest corporate lawsuit settlement? $206 billion, paid by the nation’s four largest tobacco companies.

 2. Excluding the tobacco lawsuit, what is the aggregate dollar value of the next 10 large corporate settlements? $88 billion dollars.

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How to Write the Fraud Action Statement of the Fraud Risk Statement

Nov 14, 2022 7:15:21 PM / by Leonard W. Vona posted in Fraud Risk Statements, Fraud Auditing, ...

In this blog, we're going to talk about the Fraud Action Statement, the "what" part of the Fraud Risk Statement, but first the answers to the fraud trivia from the last blog:

What was the first recorded financial collapse? Medici Bank went insolvent in 1494 due to extensive spending. Check out Business Insider’s List of the worst company collapses in history.

Who coined the phrase “White Collar Crime”? Criminologist Edwin Sutherland created the phrase in the 1930s

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Understanding the People in a Fraud Risk Statement

Oct 17, 2022 7:22:28 PM / by Leonard W. Vona posted in Fraud Risk Statements, Fraud Schemes, ...

The answers to last month's trivia and the setup to this month's topic on the people behind the fraud

What industry was Equity Funding in? Insurance.

What fraud risk statement occurred in Equity Funding? False Revenue to a false customer.

How did the fraud become known? A whistleblower, who most likely was part of the cover-up at one time.

How many employees participated in the cover-up? Over 100!

Is it true that the auditors went to jail? Yes. Apparently, the jurors thought that negligence in performing an audit is as serious as participation in fraud.

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The Science of Identifying Fraud Risks in Your Business

Aug 26, 2022 8:43:15 AM / by Leonard W. Vona posted in Fraud Risk Statements, Fraud Risk Identification, ...

Who caused the failure of a bank via illicit stock trades? Nick Leeson

Who almost caused the failure of a bank due to illicit stock trades? Jérôme Kerviel 

What carpet cleaner was listed on Forbes? Barry Minkow

Which was the first widely publicized case of computer crime to conceal a financial statement fraud? Equity Funding. I remember when this case was first publicized, and I must admit, it started with my fascination with fraud as an auditor.

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A Vulnerability Assessment Approach to Fraud Auditing

Jun 12, 2022 7:43:27 PM / by Leonard W. Vona posted in Fraud Auditing, Fraud Detection, ...

Last Month's Trivia answers

What are the 10 most common sources of food fraud? Hint: Identify the food item.

According to scientists, the most common sources of food fraud are olive oil, milk, honey, saffron, orange juice, apple juice, grape wine, vanilla extract, and fish. Think about that the next time you go to the grocery store!

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