With the increased use of the Internet to run businesses, it has become easier than ever for people to commit fraud against the system. Therefore, it is critical to make sure you have a process in place for fraud detection. If you aren’t able to quickly and easily identify issues of fraud, you will stand to lose more money before you realize there is a problem.
Educate a Team
While some businesses don’t have a lot of resources to deal with, it is important to have a specially trained team to detect fraud. This team should have an inside knowledge of your particular industry and what types of frauds are more likely to occur. Some companies create their own team, while others rely on the help of outside companies.
Risk Assessment
The first step in the fraud detection process should be to assess the level of risk your company has for the various types of fraud that can occur. Once your team is able to identify where your highest levels of risk are, they will be able to better identify when fraud is occurring. Keep the risk assessment on hand to help you build your process and continually work on it to make your company even stronger.
Fraud Symptoms
Once you are aware of where the greatest risks lie, it is time to look at the symptoms that can indicate fraud has taken place. Make a list of these symptoms so your fraud team can look for the symptoms and flag them for investigation. You should also keep a list of any transactions that seem to be suspicious in nature so you have a clear record of what you have investigated.
Complete the Investigation
After you have identified the symptoms and flagged anything that is suspicious, it is up to your fraud team to investigate each one. Through this investigation, you will be able to shut down all the fraud threats and provide your company with better stability and the tools necessary to prevent these problems in the future.
Fraud detection is a critical aspect of many businesses. Fraud can lead to many unnecessary losses for a company. This is why it is important to put aside some time and money to create a process to look for fraud. When you are constantly vigilant when looking for actions that can indicate fraudulent activity, you are doing what it takes to protect your business.
