7.1.5 Types of fraud
1) Asset misappropriation is stealing cash or other assets (supplies, inventory, equipment, and information). The theft may be concealed, e.g., by adjusting records. An example is embezzlement, the intentional appropriation of property entrusted to one’s care.
2) Skimming is theft of cash before it is recorded, for example, accepting payment from a customer but not recording the sale.
3) Disbursement fraud involves payment for fictitious goods or services, overstatement of invoices, or use of invoices for persons.
4) Expense reimbursement fraud is payment for fictitious or inflated expenses, for example, an expense report for personal travel, nonexistent meals, or extra mileage.
5) Payroll fraud is false claim for compensation, for example, overtime for hours not worked or payment to fictitious employees.
6) Financial statement misrepresentation often overstates assets or revenue or understates bonuses, or concealing another fraud.
7) Information misrepresentation provides false information, usually to outsiders in the form of fraudulent financial statements.
8) Corruption is an improper use of power, e.g. , bribery. It often leaves little accounting evidence. These crimes usually are uncovered through tips or complaints from third parties. Corruption often involves the purchasing function.
9) Bribery is offer, giving, receiving, or soliciting anything of value to influence an outcome. Bribes may be offered to key employees such as purchasing agents. Those paying tend to be intermediaries for outside vendors.
10) A conflict of interest is an undisclosed personal economic interest in a transaction that adversely affect the organization or its shareholders.
11) A diversion redirects to an employee or outsider a transaction that would normally benefit the organization.
12) Wrongful use of confidential or proprietary information is fraudulent.
13) A related-party fraud is receipt of a benefit not obtainable in an arm’s-length transaction.
14) Tax evasion is intentionally falsifying a tax return.