Programme Objective

As COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the economy, it is not hard to see why the crisis might provide fertile ground for fraud. The combination of financial and health threats makes organisations more vulnerable and creates opportunities for fraudsters. How long will it be before employees in your organisation are guilty of misconduct?

According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiner’s Report to the Nations, recognizing the behavioural clues displayed by fraudsters can help organizations to detect fraud and minimize their losses more effectively. 85% of all fraudsters display at least one behavioural red flag while committing their crimes. A fraudster living beyond his or her means is consistently the most common red flag by a sizable margin. But is knowing this enough? No.

Based on the Iceberg model, thinking creates emotions, which results in observable behaviours and eventually work performance. In this course, we go beneath behaviours to examine the thinking of fraudsters.

Course attendees will be able to examine the thinking behind unethical behaviour, understand the human behaviour in relation to crime and law, discuss the occupational fraud and abuse, and learn how to use these insights in fraud prevention and detection.

Programme Outline

• Understanding human behaviour 
  • Obeying the law
  • Theories of crime causation
• Occupational fraud and abuse  
• Who commits fraud? 
  • Categories of fraudsters
  • Profile of fraudsters
  • Common traits of fraudsters
• The thinking behind unethical behaviour
  • Before: Rationalisation, Pressure, Egoism, Disregard for Authority or Rules
  • After: Gratification, Over-Optimism, Entitlement, No remorse, No consequences, Diffusion of Harm
• Why do fraudsters do it? 
  • Factors that compel people to commit fraud
  • Motivations for fraud
• How to use this in an investigation 
  • Considering possible motives while examining evidence
  • Interviewing suspects for motives
  • Understanding deception
  • Assessing the subject’s honesty
• Fraud prevention

Training Methodology

Lecture style with group discussions / sharing of case studies in breakout groups

Closing Date for Registration

1 week before programme or until full enrolment.

Intended For

An Intermediate to Advanced level programme intended for both Practising and Non-Practising Accountants and Auditors, especially those involved in fraud prevention, detection, and investigations.