In this series of blogs, we are looking at the practice of using a fraud audit to detect shell company schemes occurring in an accounts payable file. Because the practice of effective fraud auditing is grounded in knowledge, we will start with a knowledge section and then delve into a demonstration of the fraud audit process.
In this series of blogs, we are discussing how auditors can detect shell company schemes that are occurring in their accounts payable files. Because the practice of effective fraud auditing is grounded in knowledge, each blog will have a knowledge section as well as a practical audit section. (This blog will not discuss how organized crime groups use shell companies to perpetrate criminal activities.)
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?
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.
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
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.
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.
Last month’s trivia questions and answers
Which country offers an on-line fraud quiz to test their citizen's awareness to fraud?
Canada: If your country offers such a quiz, please let me know.
What was the first recorded fraud?
The first recorded fraud scheme is from 300 B.C. in Greece.
First, trivia questions and answers from last month’s blog:
What was the original name for the FBI?
Answer: B.O.I. Bureau of Investigation
What professions did J. Edgar Hoover like to hire for FBI agents?
Answer: Lawyers, reporters, and accountants
My marketing team has encouraged me to write about the impact of Covid-19. To an extent, writing about the benefits of fraud auditing in the middle of a world crisis does not seem like the right time or place, but there is a greater potential for fraud during times of upheaval. And, we all have bosses, so here I go." FYI, my May blog will be USA centric, I apologize to my world readers.
