Fraud Investigators
Fraud investigators are the backbone of effective and efficient anti-fraud programs. They must know how to correctly identify warning signs of fraud, understand the investigative process from discovery to communicating results, and maintain professional and ethical objectivity throughout. The Anti-Fraud Collaboration provides resources to support fraud investigators in conducting their work and remaining at the forefront of anti-fraud efforts.
A comprehensive fraud risk management program includes both controls that prevent and deter fraud from occurring, as well as mechanisms to detect and respond to any fraud that does happen. As such, fraud investigators act as both the first and last lines of defense and play a critical role in protecting a company’s assets and reputation.
From recognizing the psychology of fraud to conducting effective interviews and uncovering evidence, fraud investigators not only determine how fraud is committed, but they inform the changes and improvements that can be made afterwards to strengthen the culture established by management.
Fraud investigators also need to continually improve their knowledge base; after all, they are the subject-matter experts who help quantify the return on investment of an anti-fraud program to leadership and stakeholders. Fraud investigators strive to be a step ahead of emerging trends like artificial intelligence and machine learning, which provides an additional layer of defense against bad actors looking to exploit the latest technology.
Fraud investigators play a critical role in making changes and improvements within a company to strengthen a culture conducive to deterring and detecting fraud. Explore the AFC’s resources on culture.
The Anti-Fraud Collaboration examines higher-risk areas that are susceptible to fraud and shares insights into what financial reporting supply chain stakeholders can do to identify and mitigate these types of fraud risks more effectively. Dive into our risk-related resources.
Embracing skepticism throughout the financial reporting supply chain increases not only the likelihood that fraud will be detected but also the perception that fraud will be detected, which reduces the risk that fraud will be attempted.
The Anti-Fraud Collaboration provides resources that hone the skill of skepticism in the financial reporting chain and that explore the benefits of embracing a skeptical mindset.
Technology is ever-evolving and with it comes opportunities and risks to consider in the fraud risk landscape. The AFC’s Fraud and Emerging Tech series helps fraud investigators understand the latest technologies, how to use them for anti-fraud efforts and assess risks involved with using new technology. Explore our technology resources.
Culture
Fraud investigators play a critical role in making changes and improvements within a company to strengthen a culture conducive to deterring and detecting fraud. Explore the AFC’s resources on culture.
Risk
The Anti-Fraud Collaboration examines higher-risk areas that are susceptible to fraud and shares insights into what financial reporting supply chain stakeholders can do to identify and mitigate these types of fraud risks more effectively. Dive into our risk-related resources.
Skepticism
Embracing skepticism throughout the financial reporting supply chain increases not only the likelihood that fraud will be detected but also the perception that fraud will be detected, which reduces the risk that fraud will be attempted.
The Anti-Fraud Collaboration provides resources that hone the skill of skepticism in the financial reporting chain and that explore the benefits of embracing a skeptical mindset.
Technology
Technology is ever-evolving and with it comes opportunities and risks to consider in the fraud risk landscape. The AFC’s Fraud and Emerging Tech series helps fraud investigators understand the latest technologies, how to use them for anti-fraud efforts and assess risks involved with using new technology. Explore our technology resources.
