Fraud cases can be complicated to investigate, especially if the crime involves deception. According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), fraud is any act that relies on false information to gain a benefit or cause loss to another person or organization. It can involve anything from taking money or property away from an organization to destroying the business’ reputation or the well-being of its employees.
When a fraud case comes to your attention, it’s important to take action immediately to preserve evidence and limit losses. A well-conducted investigation will help you find out what happened, by whom, and how it was done. It will also allow you to make a decision about whether to pursue legal action or settle the matter.
While the investigation is underway, it’s critical to protect physical and digital evidence by locking up valuable assets, encrypting electronic files, and using a secure case management platform with role-based access. It’s also crucial to maintain confidentiality throughout the investigation. It’s best to restrict interviews to those directly involved and avoid sharing evidence with outside parties.
Documents, such as contracts, invoices, and financial statements are usually central to fraud cases. However, these documents can be manipulated or misinterpreted. A skilled defense attorney will be able to analyze metadata or other details about the documents’ origin to challenge their authenticity. In addition, a strong defense lawyer will know how to challenge each piece of evidence effectively. The goal of a fraud investigation is to prove or disprove each element of the allegation.