International Fraud Handbook

Preface

My 40-year career has been devoted to the investigation and prevention of white-collar crimes. And while I have witnessed much change, I have also seen so much stay the same.

Through the ebbing and flowing trends and the technological advances, I have learned several enduring lessons about fraud and human nature. First, fraud is timeless; as long as people are put in positions of trust, fraud will occur. Second, the variations on fraud are not limitless. As explored in my previous publication, Corporate Fraud Handbook, frauds tend to fall into time-tested and universal categories. Finally, ignoring the problem will never solve the problem. In fact, quite the opposite is true: all organizations are inherently vulnerable to fraud, but the ones that are reluctant to admit it are the ones most at risk.

Along with these truths, I have also seen the evolution of our profession. Technology has helped both the fraudsters and the fraud fighters accomplish their tasks more effectively and efficiently. Governments in numerous countries have enacted new regulations and bolstered their enforcement efforts against fraud, resulting in an increased focus on compliance in many organizations. Business operations – and frauds – now routinely span geographical borders, requiring new knowledge and skill sets for those attempting to prevent, detect, and investigate white-collar crimes. As the fraud examination profession has grown globally and the fight against fraud has grown more complex, ...