Investigative Services 
 

EXPERTISE:

I offer expertise in many areas including:

  • Fraud detection and investigation
    • Internal
    • External, and
    • Computer
  • Tracing assets
  • Whistleblowers
  • Evidence gathering and assessing
  • Employees and due diligence
  • Anti-money laundering
  • Intellectual property protection
  • Witness location and interview
  • Liaising with law enforcement authorities

Investigations

With fraud costing businesses between $3 - $4 billion a year, it is not surprising that companies are taking misconduct and corporate fraud very seriously. 

Fraud Related Statistics

The following statistics and those above are from the 2002 Report to the Nation. This report, conducted by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, provides the most detailed view yet of how occupational fraud affects organizations in the U.S.

  • Organizations with fraud hotlines cut their fraud losses by approximately 50% per scheme. Internal audits, external audits, and employment background checks.
  • Small businesses are the most vulnerable to occupational fraud and abuse. The average scheme in a small business causes $127,500 in losses. The average scheme in the largest companies costs $97,000.
  • Corruption schemes account for 13% of all occupational frauds and they cause over $500,000 in losses, on average.
  • At least 30% of business losses are the result of dishonest acts by employees.
  • Frauds committed by employees cause median losses of $60,000, while frauds committed by managers or executives cause median losses of $250,000. When managers and employees conspire in a fraud scheme, the median loss rises to $500,000.
  • Losses caused by perpetrators older than 60 are 27 times higher than losses caused by employees 25 and younger.
  • The average fraud scheme lasted 18 months before it was detected.

Who is most at risk?

Any company and organization that employs staff and has financial transactions.  In particular, banks, trading exchanges, securities and commodity dealers, superannuation funds, insurance companies, fund managers and brokers are often the target of financial misconduct.


Prevention is the best medicine.

It is a reality of doing business that those entrusted with responsibility to conduct themselves ethically, do not always do so.  This can be both upsetting and confronting.  When this unethical behaviour occurs, whether by a staff member or an external party, it should be dealt with quickly, efficiently and by someone who can assist minimise the damage to the bottom line, brand and reputation.   

We can advise you as to what steps and actions you can take and put in place to limit opportunities for embezzlement, false accounting obtaining by deception and the like.  For instance, we can advise as to what surveillance devices can legally be used.


What do you do if you suspect fraud?

Contact us immediately and we will put in place steps to catch the offenders and prevent further losses and recover missing assets. 

 

What legal remedies are available to you?

The admissibility of evidence at court is extremely complex and developing and a proper understanding of this law is necessary before undertaking such an investigation.  The initial task is to identify the available evidence to confirm or refute allegations

Ideally law enforcement authorities will  prosecute on your behalf, once fraud is clearly identified.  If this is the case the legal cost is borne by others.  Owing to pressure of work, lack of resources or inexperience, many government agencies will fail to take action when required on your behalf.  Our expertise enables us to assist law enforcement operatives to act on your behalf when required.  When this is not possible, as lawyers, we can institute either “criminal or civil proceedings on your behalf to punish offenders and to initiate recovery of your property and to gain compensation for your losses.

 

What if your organisation is investigated?

If you are investigated and or charged by the police, or other regulatory bodies such as the ASIC, ACCC, ATO and Consumer Affairs – the most important phase of defending criminal charges is before the interrogation or interview by prosecuting officials.  I can offer expert advice as to how to survive such situations.