The City of Tenino lost $280,309 in public funds after an employee sent the money out of state using a common electronic payment method, according to a fraud report released today by the Office of the Washington State Auditor (SAO).
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A former state Employment Security Department (ESD) employee misappropriated at least $315,282 in 2020, according to a fraud report released today by the Office of the Washington State Auditor. The investigation also identified $121,503 in questionable unemployment benefit payments associated with the same employee.
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To round out the 2021 International Fraud Awareness Week, the State Auditor’s Office has put together a list of our favorite documentaries, short videos and podcasts to help you understand the “human side” of fraud.
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Automated Clearing House (ACH) frauds have been on the rise for a while, and we want to tell you some simple steps you can take to properly verify ACH and payroll bank account changes before making changes.
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Local governments are moving away from traditional paper checks to more efficient and lower-cost digital payments, like direct deposit, automated clearinghouse (ACH) payments, electronic funds transfers (EFT), and wire payments. And the benefits are clear: You can pay a variety of vendors seamlessly, process employee payroll faster, and easily transfer funds between multiple bank accounts.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has likely forever changed how we purchase goods and services—at home and at work. E-commerce and contactless payment options have become the norm, and many governments have transitioned to using credit cards for the majority of purchases and for receiving payments. But as more online transactions occur, fraudsters also have more opportunities to steal credit card information. And judging from loss reports to the State Auditor’s Office, the fraudsters are finding success in their schemes.
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Electeds and boards are responsible for ensuring management has designed and put in place effective controls to manage fraud risk. In this article, we examine the role of electeds and boards – shorthanded throughout as “boards” – in preventing fraud, and offer tips to implement customized policies and best practices.
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With International Fraud Awareness Week kicking off on Nov. 14, now is a great time to look back at how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the level of fraud in the workplace and understand the roadblocks to preventing and detecting fraud in a post-pandemic work environment.
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Looking for a way to improve your game when it comes to cash receipting internal controls? Add the double count to your arsenal. The double count is as easy as the name suggestions: money should never transfer from one employee to another without being counted and documented first.
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When you suspect or detect a loss, it can be stressful and challenging to figure out what steps you should take. SAO is here to guide you on how to handle potential losses; working together with our office will help you decide what steps to take, and hopefully, decrease the stress of the situation.
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