Post-Conference Auditing and Investigating Fraud Seminar Auditing Track Asset Misappropriation Schemes Asset Misappropriation Schemes Cash schemes • Theft of cash receipts • Fraudulent disbursements Inventory/other assets • Misuse • Larceny 2 of 20 Theft of Cash Receipts Skimming • • Sales Receivables Cash larceny • • From the register From the deposit 3 of 20 Detection of Theft of Cash Receipts Analyze sales accounts by employee. Review journal entries. Compare dates of customer payments with dates payments are posted to accounts. Analyze cash receipts and their recording. Analyze the relationship between sales, cost of sales, and returns and allowances. Watch for altered register tapes. Follow up on complaints and inquiries from customers. 4 of 20 Fictitious Disbursements Check tampering schemes Billing schemes Register disbursement schemes Expense reimbursement schemes Payroll schemes 5 of 20 Check Tampering Schemes Forged maker schemes Forged endorsements Altered checks 6 of 20 Detection of Check Tampering Schemes Investigate customer complaints. Investigate missing canceled checks. Investigate past due notices received. Review unusual endorsements on checks. Review unusual payee names. Conduct analytical reviews. Reconcile checks using a positive pay system. 7 of 20 Billing Schemes Personal purchases with company funds False invoicing Altering existing purchase orders/requisitions Returning merchandise for cash Related-party businesses 8 of 20 Detection of Billing Schemes Search for: • Vendor addresses that match employee addresses • Unusual activity in “soft” accounts • Increased payments to certain vendors Perform site visits of vendors. Investigate noticeable changes in an employee’s lifestyle. 9 of 20 Detection of Billing Schemes Conduct analytical reviews. Review high-volume vendor activity for new vendors. Investigate refunds sent to addresses other than the organization’s permanent address on file. 10 of 20 Register Disbursement Schemes False refunds False voids 11 of 20 Detection of Register Disbursement Schemes Account for consecutive sales orders/transactions. Compare volume of credit memos by period. Account for missing register tapes. Investigate voided transactions not properly documented. Investigate refunds or voids just under review limit. Analyze: • Sales volume by employee • Voids/refunds by employee 12 of 20 Expense Reimbursement Schemes Fictitious expenses Altered expenses Mischaracterized expenses Duplicate reimbursements 13 of 20 Detection of Expense Reimbursement Schemes Compare actual and budgeted expenses by cost center. Investigate reimbursements over a certain amount or in even amounts. Investigate reimbursements charged to unusual accounts. Examine accounts that have unusual activity. 14 of 20 Payroll Schemes Ghost employees Overpayment of wages 15 of 20 Detection of Payroll Schemes Independent payroll distribution Analysis of payee addresses or accounts Search for duplicate employee information Review of overtime Analysis of deductions 16 of 20 Non-Cash Asset Schemes Misuse of inventory/fixed assets Theft of fixed assets Theft of inventory 17 of 20 Detection of Fixed Asset Theft Perform physical counts of fixed assets, including computer software. Analyze depreciation schedules for unusual patterns. Compare fixed asset purchases for multiple years. Analyze salvage and scrap sales for unusual patterns. Review surveillance camera videos, if available. 18 of 20 Theft of Inventory Methods of stealing inventory: • Unconcealed larceny • Fraudulent requisitions and transfers • Falsified receiving reports • Fraudulent shipments of merchandise Methods of concealing shrinkage: • • • • Altering inventory records Recording fictitious sales and accounts receivable Writing off the missing inventory Padding the physical inventory 19 of 20 Detection of Inventory Theft Compare cost of goods sold to sales. Conduct periodic and surprise inventory counts. Analyze shrinkage. Compare shipping addresses to employee addresses. Reconcile shipments to sales records. Analyze inventory recorded as scrap. Analyze inventory balances and entries. 20 of 20